PRIVATE FUNDS FOR HIGHWAY SIGNS - H.B. 5050 (S-1): FIRST ANALYSIS
House Bill 5050 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Valde Garcia
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation and Tourism
Date Completed: 3-28-00
RATIONALE
It is not uncommon for legislation to name a highway or portion of a highway in honor of a particular individual or organization. Recent examples include Public Act 25 of 2000, which named an overpass in Genesee County the "Preston Schmidt Overpass"; and Public Act 12 of 1999, which named part of a highway in Farmington and Farmington Hills the "Keith Deacon Memorial Highway". In both cases, the legislation provided for the Department of Transportation to erect signs or markers only when sufficient private contributions were received to cover the cost. In addition, the Department apparently has adopted a policy to prohibit the use of public funds for memorial highway signs. It has been suggested that this policy should be specified in statute.
CONTENT
The bill would create a new act to permit the Department of Transportation to erect signs or markers to name or rename a highway, street, or road or a portion of a highway, street, or road within its jurisdiction in honor of a specific individual or individuals or an organization, or for a specific purpose, only if sufficient private contributions were received to cover completely the cost of erecting the signs or markers.
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The bill would protect taxpayers from having to foot the bill for the fabrication and placement of memorial highway signs. By codifying the Department's existing policy, the bill would ensure that the policy continued beyond the current administration. The bill also would ensure that future legislation naming highways for specific individuals or causes did not result in a cost to the public.
- Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe
FISCAL IMPACT
Current Transportation Commission policy requires private funding sources for fabrication and installation of memorial highway markers. The cost varies depending on the size of the markers. The average cost of a marker (including fabrication and installation) is approximately $1,200 to $1,800 depending on its size.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanH9900\s5050a
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.