BOILER ACT:  MILITARY EXPERIENCE                                                              H.B. 5751:

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5751 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Bradford C. Jacobsen

House Committee:  Military and Veterans Affairs

Senate Committee:  Regulatory Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Boiler Act to revise provisions recognizing military training and experience as the basis for licensure or registration for certain classifications under the Act.

The Act specifies requirements for registration in various boiler operator or stationary engineer classifications. These generally include participation in a qualified training program and/or a certain amount of experience operating boilers or related machinery. The Act's definition of "qualified training program" includes a training program offered to active duty boiler operators and stationary engineers by a branch of the armed forces.

Also, for purposes of registration as a boiler operator or stationary engineer, the Act states that "experience" includes experience acquired while serving as an active duty member of the armed forces, by a veteran who was not dishonorably discharged from military service. The Act specifies requirements for the military experience to qualify. The bill would delete those provisions.

The bill specifies that, as used in the Boiler Act and for purposes of any rules promulgated under it, in connection with any requirements for a license to inspect, install, or repair boilers or for registration as a boiler operator or stationary engineer in one or more of the classifications described in the Act, "experience" would include any relevant experience acquired while serving in the armed forces. To qualify, an applicant would have to give LARA a form satisfactory to the Department demonstrating that he or she was separated from military service with an honorable character of service or under honorable conditions (general) character of service. The applicant also would have to submit with his or her application for licensure or registration 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 designing, constructing, manufacturing, installing, inspecting, operating, repairing, or maintaining boilers and associated auxiliaries while serving in the armed forces.

MCL 408.752 & 408.763d                                           Legislative Analyst:  Patrick Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-9-14                                                     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.