The Senate Regulatory Reform committee passed HB 5011, which amends the State Construction Code Act to allow a governmental subdivision to contract with a private organization to operate its building department. Currently, some communities use outside companies to operate building departments, but this practice has been called into question. There were also questions about the things that the outside organization could do, and the role of the contact for the local unit of government. This bill specifies all of that in law and expands the definition of building official to include individuals employed by a private organizatio. The Michigan Municipal League supported the bill and worked with Rep. Mark Ouimet (R-Ann Arbor), the Home Builders, the Townships, SafeBuilt, and other parties on the technical details of the legislation. This bill previously passed the House and passed the Senate committee with two members abstaining.

Andy Schor is the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League. Contact him at (517) 908-0300 or by email at [email protected].