PHILIP A. HART MEMORIAL HIGHWAY H.B. 5199: FIRST ANALYSIS
House Bill 5199 (as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative Philip LaJoy
House Committee: Transportation
Senate Committee: Transportation
Date Completed: 4-17-06
RATIONALE
When the Michigan Memorial Highway Act was enacted in 2001, it consolidated at least two dozen Public Acts, and codified more than 40 legislative resolutions, naming highways or parts of highways, or requesting the State Highway Commissioner to designate particular highways. These included Senate Concurrent Resolution 307 of 1978, which named I-275 the "Philip A. Hart Memorial Highway", after a former U.S. Senator from Michigan. The provision codifying the Philip A. Hart Memorial Highway contained an error in its description of the affected portion of highway. It has been suggested that this error be corrected.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to revise the description of I-275 in the provision naming it the "Phillip A. Hart Memorial Highway". Currently, the Act refers to I-275 from its intersection with I-75 in Monroe County to its intersection with "I-69" in Oakland County. The bill would refer to the intersection with "I-96" in Oakland County.
MCL 250.1029
BACKGROUND
Before serving three terms in the U.S. Senate, Philip Hart practiced law in Detroit, served in the U.S. Army during World War II, held a variety of State posts, and served as the Lieutenant Governor. Due to his focus in the Senate on legislation pertaining to civil rights, antitrust enforcement, and consumer and environmental protection, he became known as the "conscience of the Senate". In addition to the highway, a Senate office building, Detroit's Hart Plaza, and the Hart-Dole-Inouye Federal Center in Battle Creek are named after him.
ARGUMENTS
(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)
Supporting Argument
The legislation creating the Michigan Memorial Highway Act referred mistakenly to I-69, rather than I-96, with regard to the Hart Memorial Highway. Correcting this error would properly acknowledge former Senator Hart's career in public service, and would make the statute consistent with the original resolution naming the highway.
Legislative Analyst: Julie Koval
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Craig ThielAnalysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. hb5199/0506