PURE MICHIGAN BYWAYS                                                                             H.B. 5072:

                                                                               SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Bill 5072 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Peter Pettalia

House Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Senate Committee:  Transportation

Date Completed:  9-8-14

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 69 of 1993, which allows the designation of certain highways as Michigan Heritage Routes, to do the following:

-- Remove references to Michigan Heritage Routes and replace them with references to "Pure Michigan Byways".

-- Require the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to designate all Michigan Heritage Routes as Pure Michigan Byways within one year after the bill's effective date if a trademark license were obtained from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) for use of the words "Pure Michigan".

-- Allow MDOT to designate portions of a road as a Pure Michigan Byway if it obtained a trademark license from the MEDC for use of the words "Pure Michigan".

The bill also would repeal Section 5 of the Act. Section 5 required MDOT to designate the Michigan heritage route system.

Public Act 69 of 1993 designates certain Michigan highways as Michigan Heritage Routes and specifies the procedure by which a Michigan Heritage Route may be added, deleted, or modified. The Act defines "heritage route" as "a state highway that is designated in the manner provided in this act as a scenic, recreational, or historic route that is representative of Michigan's natural and cultural heritage". Under the bill, this definition would apply to the term "Pure Michigan Byway", and where the Act refers to Michigan Heritage Routes, the bill instead would refer to Pure Michigan Byways.

The Act allows MDOT to designate portions of a road as a heritage route. The bill would allow MDOT to designate portions of a road as a Pure Michigan Byway, if the Department obtained a trademark license from the MEDC for use of the words "Pure Michigan".

The bill also would require MDOT to designate all Michigan Heritage Routes as Pure Michigan Byways no later than one year after the bill's effective date, if the Department obtained a trademark license from the MEDC for the use of the words "Pure Michigan".

MCL 247.951 et al.                                                           Legislative Analyst:  Jeff Mann

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                    Fiscal Analyst:  Glenn Steffens

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.