PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY ACT

House Bill 4366

Sponsor:  Rep. Margaret O'Brien

House Bill 4367

Sponsor:  Rep. Sean McCann

Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 3-8-11

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 4366 & 4367 AS INTRODUCED

Public Act 196 allows one or more political subdivisions, defined in Section 2 of the act as a county, city, village, or township, to form a public authority under the act to provide public transportation services.

House Bill 4367 would amend Section 4 of the Public Transportation Authority Act (Public Act 196 of 1986) to allow a county with a population between 240,000 and 255,000 to form more than one public authority under the act.  (This appears to apply to Kalamazoo County.)

House Bill 4366 would amend Public Act 566 of 1987, which deals with incompatibility in public offices, to allow a public officer or employee of a transportation authority created under Public Act 196, to serve as a public officer or employee on another transportation authority if each authority has members consisting of the identical political subdivisions.  (Specifically, the bill would say the act does not prohibit serving in such a circumstance.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no direct impact on state or local costs or revenues.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

There are 79 public transit agencies in the state of Michigan.  Of these 79 agencies, 22 are organized under provisions of Public Act 196 of 1986.  [The other public transit agencies in the state are organized under authority of other statutes; many are organized as a department of a city or county government.]  In addition to these 22 Public Act 196 agencies, both Wayne County and Oakland County participate in the regional transportation authority, the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) through county-established Public Act 196 transportation authorities.

                                                                                           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.