ALLOW SPEED LIMIT SIGN TO INDICATE

A SCHOOL MEETS YEAR-ROUND

House Bill 4607 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. John Stakoe

Committee:  Local Government and Urban Policy

First Analysis (5-2-05)

BRIEF SUMMARY:  The bill would allow a school to post a sign indicating that it is in session year round.

FISCAL IMPACT:  The bill does not appear to have a material fiscal impact on state or local government.

THE APPARENT PROBLEM:

The Michigan Vehicle Code requires, in general, that permanent signs designating a school zone and the speed limit in the school zone be posted at the request of the school superintendent.  Drivers must adhere to posted speed limits during the time the school is in session.  For schools that are in session year round, however, there is no provision in law authorizing them to post a sign alerting drivers to their year-round status.

THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:

House Bill 4607 would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code (MCL 257.627a) to allow a school superintendent to request that a sign be erected in a school zone indicating that the school was in session year-round.  The sign would have to be posted in close proximity to the school zone sign or speed limit sign within the school zone, or both.  In addition, the sign would have to read "Year-Round School" and would have to conform to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

The code defines "regularly scheduled school session" to mean that part of a day of student instruction that is followed by a break for lunch or by a final dismissal of the student body for that day.  "School zone" refers to school property on which the school building is located and the adjacent area that is designated by the required signs mentioned previously.  In general, the school zone extends up to 1,000 feet from the school's property line in each direction.

ARGUMENTS:

For:

Currently, a school superintendent must request that signs be erected indicating that a driver is in a school zone and indicating the speed limit that applies the school zone when school is in session.  However, there is no mechanism in place to request a sign indicating that the school is in session year round.  Year-round schools are growing in popularity with parents, students, and school districts, but are still in the minority.  Therefore, drivers may not realize that the posted school speed limit is still in force near some schools during the summer.  The bill would correct this oversight and allow a school superintendent to request the needed signage.  To ensure uniformity, which reduces confusion to drivers, the bill would specify the wording to be used on the signs and requires that size and placement would have to conform to the same specifications as all traffic control signs.

POSITIONS:

A representative of the Oakland Schools indicated support for the bill.  (4-27-05)

A representative of the Michigan Department of Transportation indicated a position of neutrality on the bill.  (4-27-05)

A representative of the Department of Education indicated a position of neutrality on the bill.  (4-27-05)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   William Hamilton

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.