COMMISSION
House Bills 5603 and 5604
Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Hager
Committee: Transportation
Complete to 4-17-00
A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILLS 5603 and 5604 AS INTRODUCED 4-13-00
House Bill 5603 would repeal Public Act 147 of 1935 (MCL 254.151 to 254.167), which created a state bridge commission. Under the law, the commission was authorized to acquire, improve, construct, operate and maintain bridges; to issue revenue bonds; to provide for the collection of fees, rents, tolls and other charges for the payment of the bonds and the costs of maintenance; to prohibit the state from incurring debt for the purposes specified in the act; and to provide for condemnation.
House Bill 5603 also would eliminate the provision of the Executive Organization Act of 1965 (MCL 16.456), which transferred the state bridge commission (in a type III transfer) to the Department of Transportation and abolished the commission.
House Bill 5604 would repeal Public Act 294 of 1947 (MCL 254.181), which enabled the state bridge commission to sell real estate it owned in Port Huron, Michigan and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, subject to approval by the state administrative board. The act also specified that the deed of conveyance for the land contain a restrictive clause providing that no part or portion of the land could be used to operate for toll or hire any ferry between the city of Port Huron and the Canadian shore, or for any terminal, dock or wharf used in connection with a ferry operation, until the time the Blue Water Bridge had become toll free. Under the law, proceeds from the sale of land were used to pay either the principal or interest on outstanding bonds.
Analyst: J. Hunault