HB 4165

Abstract

Creates the Lake Michigan Rescue Equipment Act. Provides that the owner of a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall install public rescue equipment, including, at a minimum, ring life buoys, on each of the owner's piers and drop-offs along the Lake Michigan coast. Provides that public rescue equipment shall also be installed in all high-incident drowning areas on an owner's property. Includes requirements for ring life buoys. Provides that each unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall track and report to the Department of Public Health, in a form prescribed by the Department, Lake Michigan lakefront drownings, both fatal and non-fatal drownings, near the unit's piers and drop-offs. Includes tracking and reporting requirements. Provides that the Department shall analyze the tracking and reporting and appropriately provide a plan and recommendations for reduction in drowning incidents. Defines terms. Effective 180 days after becoming law. House Floor Amendment No. 1 Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Reinserts the provisions of the introduced bill with the following changes: Modifies definitions. Provides that, to reduce vandalism and theft, the rescue equipment station shall have signage (rather than an alarm, signage, and a warning of cameras) that warns lakefront patrons that tampering with or misuse of public rescue equipment is strictly prohibited. Removes provisions about automatic contacting of 9-1-1 and compliance with a specified guide. Provides that the buoyant line attached to each ring life buoy must be at least 100 feet in length (rather than 100 inches). Provides that each unit of local government owning a pier or drop-off on Lake Michigan shall track and publish a report on the unit's website lakefront drownings if such drownings occur within 100 feet of the unit's piers and drop-offs and if the unit was made aware of such drowning (rather than making a report to the Department of Public Health). Provides that, if there have been drownings during the reporting period, each unit of local government must also publish a water safety plan on the unit's website. Adds provisions relating to high-incident drowning area plans. Makes other changes. Changes the effective date from 180 days after becoming law to one year after becoming law.