DEP. ERNEST W. HEIKKILA MEM. HWY                                                           H.B. 4053:

                                                                              SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL

                                                                                                         IN COMMITTEE

House Bill 4053 (as passed by the House)

Sponsor:  Representative Greg VanWoerkom

House Committee:  Transportation

Senate Committee:  Transportation and Infrastructure

Date Completed:  4-14-21

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of Highway M-120 in Muskegon County between E. Bard Road and 4^th Street as the "Deputy Ernest W. Heikkila Memorial Highway".

Proposed MCL 250.1104                                                                                           

BACKGROUND

Before working in law enforcement, Deputy Ernest W. Heikkila served in the United States Navy and received the Good Conduct Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He began his career with the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department in 1975, working throughout his 20 years of service as a patrol, investigations, and traffic officer. In December 1985, Deputy Heikkila survived after being shot in the line of duty and was awarded the Muskegon Exchange Club Blue and Gold Wounded in Service Award and the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police Medal of Honor Award.

On February 15, 1995, Deputy Ernest W. Heikkila was responding to a reported traffic crash when a volunteer firefighter responding to the same incident failed to stop at an intersection and struck Deputy Heikkila's police cruiser broadside. Deputy Heikkila died at the scene of the crash. He served with the Muskegon County Sheriff's Department for 20 years.

                                                                            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.