Legislation from State Representative Bill G. Schuette within proposals that cut red tape, streamline construction and work to address the state’s housing shortage was advanced today by the Michigan House.

“It is too expensive to live here, build here and work here because the bureaucratic culture in our state is broken,” Schuette said. “Long wait times for permit approval and a convoluted review process that causes more issues than answers are driving up the cost of building a business, living in your home or starting a family.

“The way our state government treats permit applicants is flat out bad customer service. What message are we sending about our state when that is the treatment its citizens can expect? No business in the private sector would survive leaving its customers in limbo about when and how a project could be completed. You can order a pizza and if it is not delivered in 30 the next one is free! We should expect some semblance of good customer service from the people’s government.

“By streamlining the review process, creating a shot clock for permits and requiring the department to refund fees if the shot clock expires we can put at least a little pep in the step of our bureaucratic culture.”

Schuette’s House Bill 5935 provides notice requirements for a permit issued by the state’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). Under the plan, if LARA denies an application, the department must explain why and include provisions from the law or code it based the denial on. If LARA determines that a permit application is incomplete, the department must alert the applicant within a week of receiving the application so that changes can be made and deadlines aren’t missed.

Other bills in the legislative package set a deadline for LARA to require changes to a permit application, offer permit fee reimbursements if a permit is not issued or denied within the deadline and establishes a common-sense process for modifying building permits after issuance without having to go through additional hoops with re-application.

“These are basic customer service practices that the people deserve,” Schuette said. “Regulatory hurdles ultimately discourage workers and job providers from setting up shop in our state. Through these plans, new builds can have a green light and we can still ensure that they’re being done right.”  

Schuette has championed efforts in the House to reduce government red tape and make state government work more effectively for the people and professionals it represents. He has led through committee hearings examining this issue and the introduction of numerous bills focused on limiting costly, government-imposed burdens within occupational licensing, the state’s building code, health care, and more.

The bills within the advancing package, HBs 5932-35, now move to the Senate for consideration.