BOILER ACT:  MILITARY EXPERIENCE                                                      H.B. 4752 (S-2):

                                                                                                      FLOOR SUMMARY

House Bill 4752 (Substitute S-2 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

Sponsor:  Representative Robert L. Kosowski

House Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee:  Veterans, Military Affairs and Homeland Security

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Boiler Act to recognize military training and experience for occupational registration purposes, and require the waiver of fees for honorably discharged veterans.

The Act specifies requirements an applicant must meet to be issued a registration in various boiler operator or stationary engineer classifications.  The requirements generally include participation in a qualified training program and/or a certain amount of experience operating boilers or related machinery.

Under the bill, "qualified training program" would include a training program offered to active duty boiler operators and stationary engineers by a branch of the armed forces.  "Experience" would include experience acquired while serving in the armed forces, by an individual who was honorably discharged from military service.  For the military experience to qualify, the person would have to submit with his or her registration application an affidavit or letter signed by a commanding officer, supervisor, or military superior with direct knowledge of the applicant's service, that described his or her experience as a boiler operator or stationary engineer in one or more of the classifications described in the Act.

The bill also would require the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs to waive the initial application fee and any license, permit, or registration fee required under the Act, for an honorably discharged veteran.

The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.

MCL 408.752 & 408.763d                                           Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have a minor negative fiscal impact on the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and no fiscal impact on local units of government.  The Department collects approximately $2.5 million to $3.0 million per year in fees from activities regulated under the Boiler Act.  Exempting veterans from paying some of these fees would reduce the revenue collected by an unknown amount. 

Date Completed:  10-28-13                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.