SCHOOL SPEED LIMIT SIGNS H.B. 4607 (H-1): COMMITTEE SUMMARY






House Bill 4607 (Substitute H-1 as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative John Stakoe
House Committee: Local Government and Urban Policy
Senate Committee: Transportation


Date Completed: 6-21-05

CONTENT The bill would amend the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow a school superintendent to request that a speed limit sign be erected in the school zone indicating that the school was in session year-round.

Under the Code, the "prima facie speed limit" in a school zone is 25 miles per hour, and must be in force at least 30 minutes but not more than one hour before the first regularly scheduled school session until school commences and from dismissal until at least 30 minutes but not more than one hour after the last regularly scheduled school session, as well as during a lunch period when students are permitted to leave the school, if permanent signs designating the school zone and the speed limit are posted at the superintendent's request. Local authorities may increase or decrease the prima facie speed limit within a school zone under their jurisdiction.

(The Code defines "school zone" as school property on which a school building is located and the area adjacent to the school property that is designated by signs. A school zone may not extend more than 1,000 feet from the property line of the school in each direction. "Regularly scheduled school session" means 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.)


Additionally, notwithstanding the 25-mile-per-hour prima facie speed limit, the prima facie speed limit for any street in a school zone that has sidewalks along at least one side of the street, which must be in force during the prescribed time periods, must be set at the limit requested by the superintendent. This limit may not be more than 15 miles per hour below the regularly posted speed limit for that street or less than 25 miles per hour. Permanent signs designating the school zone and the speed limit must be posted.


Under the bill, if appropriate, the school superintendent could request that a sign be erected in the 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. The sign would have to read "year-round school" and would have to conform to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.


MCL 257.627a Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval






FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could result in increased costs to State and local road agencies associated with the provision allowing the posting of new "year-round" school signs. The fiscal impact on the State and local governments would depend upon the number of requests for "year-round" school signs. Data on the number of year-round schools were not available from the Michigan Department of Education.

Fiscal Analyst: Craig Thiel

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. hb4607/0506