SGT MATTHEW R. SOPER MEM HWY H.B. 5570:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 5570 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Julie Alexander
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of Highway M-60 in Jackson County beginning at Fairway Drive and continuing west to Emerson Road as the "Sergeant Matthew R. Soper Memorial Highway".
Proposed MCL 250.1106
BACKGROUND
On October 23, 2002, Sergeant Matthew R. Soper became a member of the Michigan National Guard 1461st Transportation Company, a unit that transports tanks in heavy equipment transport vehicles. He served his first tour of duty in Afghanistan and returned home in February 2005. In June 2006, Sergeant Soper was called up for service again and deployed to Iraq.
On June 6, 2007, in Bayji, Iraq, Sergeant Soper stopped to secure the long convoy behind him and suffered fatal wounds from an improvised explosive device. He was 25 years old. Sergeant Soper received the Bronze Sate and the Purple Heart, among other awards and decorations.
Legislative Analyst: Tyler VanHuyse
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The Act specifies that the Department of Transportation may provide for the erection and maintenance of markers designating the name of a highway only when sufficient private funds are available to cover the costs of erecting and maintaining those markers. As such, private funds would cover the cost of the renaming, and no State funds would be used.
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
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.