BLUE WATER BRIDGE EXPANSION COMMITTEE

House Bill 4724

Sponsor:  Rep. Phillip Pavlov

Committee:  Commerce

Complete to 5-5-09

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4724 AS INTRODUCED 3-31-09

The bill would create a Blue Water Bridge Oversight Committee to oversee the Department of Transportation's management of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza expansion from start to completion.

The committee would be created within the Legislative Council and would have the following members:  two appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the Minority Leader of the House; and two appointed by the Senate Majority Leader and one by the Senate Minority Leader.  The members would serve from the beginning of their appointments to the end of each legislative session.  New members would be appointed within 30 days of each new legislative session.

The Department of Transportation would be required to provide the oversight committee at reasonable intervals with a written accounting of all expenditures related to the project and written updates as to whether the project is staying within budget, along with full explanations for any expenditures beyond those budgeted.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would create a joint House/Senate Blue Water Bridge Plaza Oversight committee within the Legislative Council.  The bill states that the committee "shall oversee that state transportation department's management of the Blue Water Bridge plaza expansion from start to finish."  The bill does not define "oversight."  The bill also requires the Michigan Department of Transportation to provide to the committee, "at reasonable intervals, an accounting of all expenditures related to the project," and written updates as to whether the project is staying within budget. 

 

The bill does not appear to have any significant fiscal impact.  To the extent that the committee's oversight functions involve receipt and review of department reports, the cost would appear to be minimal and would be supported by current Legislative Council funding.  The cost of the department's reporting requirements would also be minimal and would be absorbed by the department's budget.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Chris Couch

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

■ 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.