July 23, 2004
LANSING – A package of bills designed to cut red tape in state government and speed the process for obtaining various state permits and licenses was signed into law by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm late Thursday.
"Anytime we can make state government more accessible and friendly to our customers, we are exercising efficiency," Granholm said. "These new laws are just a small part of what my administration is doing to slash red tape and speed the permitting process."
The Governor said her initiative to put all permits online and to provide one-stop shopping for new businesses and business expansions is progressing quickly. MITAPS (Michigan Timely Application and Permit Service) is an effort by the Department of Labor and Economic Growth and the Department of Information Technology to create a single point of entry online for all state permits and licenses related to business projects.
The Department of Environmental Quality also is developing an online permitting system to help businesses better access water and air quality permits. Currently, there are stormwater permits online for users to access, and in September, six more environmental permits will be offered.
"I welcome these new laws as a part of the processes we already have underway in several state departments," Granholm said. "Part of fiscal responsibility is also making sure we use every tax dollar wisely to provide services to our citizens."
The laws the Governor signed Thursday include:
- Senate Bill 1208 to require the state to issue or deny licenses for Grade A milk plant facilities within 90 days.
- Senate Bill 1209 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses for gasoline distributors and dealers within 120 days.
- Senate Bill 1211 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for livestock dealers and brokers within 90 days.
- Senate Bill 1214 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for pet shops within 90 days.
- Senate Bill 1215 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for adult foster care facilities within 180 days.
- Senate Bill 1216 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses for psychiatric programs and facilities within 90 days.
- Senate Bill 1222 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses to private detectives within 90 days.
- Senate Bill 1223 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses to asbestos abatement contractors within 60 days.
- Senate Bill 1224 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses for asbestos worker accreditation within 60 days.
- Senate Bills 1230 and 1231 provides for refunds of application fees for certain occupational licenses if the state misses a deadline to issue or deny a license.
- Senate Bill 1234 to require the state to issue or deny permits or licenses for boilers within 90 days.
- House Bill 5878 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses under the Michigan Liquor Control Code within 90 days.
- House Bill 5879 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for food establishments within 90 days.
- House Bill 5882 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for adult foster care facilities within 180 days.
- House Bill 5884 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for milk manufacturing within 90 days.
- House Bill 5887 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for forensic polygraph examiners within 90 days.
- House Bill 5888 to require licenses for the motor vehicle financing business within 90 days.
- House Bill 5889 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for master plumbers or plumbing contractors within 90 days.
- House Bill 5890 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for elevator contractors within 90 days.
- House Bill 5893 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for private security and security alarm businesses within 180 days.
- House Bill 5894 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for mechanical contractors within 90 days.
- House Bill 5895 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for health facilities and agencies, ambulance operations, nontransport pre-hospital life support operations, airport transport operations, and medical first responder services within 90 days.
- House Bill 5896 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for lottery sales within 90 days.
- House Bill 5897 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for plant sellers, plant dealers and nursery dealers within 90 days.
- House Bill 5899 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for grain dealers within 30 days.
- House Bill 5900 to require the state to issue or deny permits and licenses for master electricians, electrical contractors, electrical journeymen, fire alarm specialty technicians, sign specialty contractors, and sign specialists within 90 days.
