House Bill 5523 (Substitute H-2)
First Analysis (9-18-02)
Sponsor: Rep. Judith Scranton
Committee: Commerce
Both houses of the legislature have passed a version of House Bill 5467, which would create a new transportation authority in Southeast Michigan, to be known as the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority (DARTA). The new authority would be created by a new act that would replace the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967. Public Act 51 of 1951 is the act under which transportation funds are distributed in the state and it contains a definition of "eligible authority" (for funding purposes) that refers to the 1967 act that is to be repealed should the proposed new act go into effect. A technical amendment is needed so that Public Act 51 will refer to the new act creating DARTA.
THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:
The bill would amend Public Act 51 of 1951 to define an eligible authority as an authority organized under the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1967 or an authority organized or continued under the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority Act. (The underlined portions are the new provisions.) The bill would only take effect if House Bill 5467 is enacted into law.
MCL 247.660c
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
For information on House Bill 5467, see the summary of the first conference report by the House Legislative Analysis Section dated 9-16-02 and the analysis and background information on transportation funding by the House Fiscal Agency dated 2-7-02.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
The bill is a companion bill to House Bill 5467. For a fiscal analysis of the implications of that bill see the analysis by the House Fiscal Agency dated 2-7-02 and the analysis by the Senate Fiscal Agency dated 6-5-02.
ARGUMENTS:
For:
The bill is essentially technical in nature. In would change a reference in Public Act 51, the act governing transportation funding, so that it would refer to a new act that House Bill 5467 of the current session would create if passed. If that bill is not enacted, House Bill 5523 would not take effect. The new authority that would be created, the Detroit Area Regional Transportation Authority, would serve as the new pass-through agency for funds currently going to transit systems in Southeast Michigan.
POSITIONS:
A representative from the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce testified in support of the bill. (9-17-02)
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This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.