SB 59, As Passed Senate

SB-0059, As Passed Senate, April 18, 2007

SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 59

A bill to amend 1951 PA 51, entitled

"An act to provide for the classification of all public roads,

streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that

classification and for additions to and deletions from each

classification; to set up and establish the Michigan transportation

fund; to provide for the deposits in the Michigan transportation

fund of specific taxes on motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels;

to provide for the allocation of funds from the Michigan

transportation fund and the use and administration of the fund for

transportation purposes; to set up and establish the truck safety

fund; to provide for the allocation of funds from the truck safety

fund and administration of the fund for truck safety purposes; to

set up and establish the Michigan truck safety commission; to

establish certain standards for road contracts for certain

businesses; to provide for the continuing review of transportation

needs within the state; to authorize the state transportation

commission, counties, cities, and villages to borrow money, issue

bonds, and make pledges of funds for transportation purposes; to

authorize counties to advance funds for the payment of deficiencies

necessary for the payment of bonds issued under this act; to

provide for the limitations, payment, retirement, and security of

the bonds and pledges; to provide for appropriations and tax levies

by counties and townships for county roads; to authorize

contributions by townships for county roads; to provide for the

establishment and administration of the state trunk line fund,

local bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and certain

other funds; to provide for the deposits in the state trunk line

fund, critical bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and

certain other funds of money raised by specific taxes and fees; to

provide for definitions of public transportation functions and

criteria; to define the purposes for which Michigan transportation

funds may be allocated; to provide for Michigan transportation fund

grants; to provide for review and approval of transportation

programs; to provide for submission of annual legislative requests

and reports; to provide for the establishment and functions of

certain advisory entities; to provide for conditions for grants; to

provide for the issuance of bonds and notes for transportation

purposes; to provide for the powers and duties of certain state and

local agencies and officials; to provide for the making of loans

for transportation purposes by the state transportation department

and for the receipt and repayment by local units and agencies of

those loans from certain specified sources; and to repeal acts and

parts of acts,"

(MCL 247.651 to 247.675) by adding section 9c.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

Sec. 9c. (1) By October 1, 2007, the governor shall appoint

not more than 7 persons who shall serve as a task force to review

alternative transportation funding options, alternative

transportation investment priorities, and potential strategies for

maximizing returns on transportation investments. The task force

shall evaluate the potential of alternate strategies to replace or

supplement the 19-cent state gas tax and shall focus on

implementation of technical strategies to put in place user pay

funding methods. The appointments shall be subject to the advice

and consent of the senate. The task force shall include at least 1

representative of the following interests:

(a) Manufacturing.

(b) Commerce.

(d) Tourism.

(e) Labor.

(f) Transportation.

(2) Beginning January 1, 2008, the task force shall also

include the majority and minority leaders of the senate or a member

of the senate designated by each leader and the speaker and

minority leader of the house of representatives or a member of the

house of representatives designated by each leader.

(3) By May 1, 2008, the legislative auditor general shall

review and comment on the recommended work program developed by the

department under subsection (5) in order to assist the citizens

advisory committee.

(4) A citizens advisory committee shall be created to receive

and comment upon all reports, studies, and recommendations prepared

by the various designated technical subcommittees of the citizens

advisory committee before but not later than the submission of the

reports, studies, and recommendations to the task force. The

citizens advisory committee may create any subcommittees that it

deems necessary, and any subcommittee that is created may make

recommendations to the full committee. The members of the citizens

advisory committee shall be given sufficient time and opportunity

to provide members of the task force their majority, minority, or

individual views of the reports, studies, and recommendations of

the various designated technical subcommittees. The governor shall

appoint not more than 15 persons, who shall serve as a citizens

advisory committee and shall include at least 1 representative from

a list of 3 recommendations supplied by each organization of the

following organizations:

(a) Michigan farm bureau.

(b) Michigan trucking association.

(d) Michigan townships association.

(e) Michigan state chamber of commerce.

(f) Michigan tourist association.

(g) County road association of Michigan.

(h) Michigan municipal league.

(i) Michigan public transit association.

(j) Asphalt paving association of Michigan.

(k) Michigan concrete paving association.

(l) Michigan infrastructure and transportation association.

(m) Michigan railroads association.

(n) American council of engineering companies.

(o) Michigan building and construction trades council.

(5) The state transportation department shall provide

qualified staff, needs, technical oversight, and fiscal analysis

subcommittees and provide by March 1, 2008 a recommended work

program to the task force to enable the committee to carry out its

functions.

(6) The primary focus of the alternative transportation

funding task force is to examine alternatives to the portion of

road funding that has motor fuel taxes as a source and to suggest

or recommend alternative revenue collection systems funded through

user pay methods. The alternative transportation funding task force

shall include an analysis of the feasibility of alternative

methods. The alternative transportation funding task force shall

make recommendations for implementation of pilot programs to test

feasible alternatives to replace the portion of road funding that

comes from motor fuel taxes. The alternative transportation funding

task force shall make a preliminary recommendation on pilot

programs by December 31, 2008.

(7) By a majority vote of the task force, the task force shall

report to the governor, the state transportation commission, and

the legislature on the identified capital and maintenance needs,

transportation investment and maintenance priorities, relative use

of transportation systems, responsibilities for the identified

needs including alternative transportation funding options,

historical transportation financing patterns as they relate to

total statewide fiscal resources, and strategies for maximizing the

returns on transportation investments. All studies and reports

relating to highways shall be reported according to functional and

legal classification. The task force shall publish a preliminary

report of the data and findings by December 31, 2008. The task

force, after holding appropriate public hearings, shall recommend,

if it considers it necessary, alterations of formulas for and

alternative sources of transportation funding and alterations to

the distributions of transportation responsibilities by April 1,

2009. The report and recommendations shall also include any

positions which a minority of task force members support.