SERGEANT JOHNSON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY                                                         S.B. 34:

                                                                   ANALYSIS AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

Senate Bill 34 (as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Senator Jim Ananich

Committee:  Transportation

Date Completed:  3-6-17

RATIONALE

A native of Flint, Michigan, Army Specialist Joseph Johnson was killed at the age of 24 in Afghanistan on June 16, 2010. After graduating from Carman-Ainsworth High School in 2004, he enlisted in the Army in 2006 and was deployed to Afghanistan in December 2009 with the 27^th Engineer Battalion, 161^st Combat Engineers Airborne as a counter-IED (improvised explosive device) soldier and route clearance patrolman. To honor his sacrifice and service, it has been suggested that a highway in Genesee County should be named after Sgt. Johnson.

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to name the portion of highway US-23 in Genesee County beginning at the intersection of highway US-23 and Thompson Road and extending north to the intersection of highway US-23 and Bristol Road as the "Sergeant Joe Johnson Memorial Highway".

The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.

Proposed MCL 250.1011a

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

Sergeant Joseph Johnson should be recognized for his heroism and dedication to his county. He displayed bravery by volunteering for missions that he knew would be dangerous, stepping up to protect his fellow platoon members.  He worked with armed forces from other countries and was one of the few selected to teach the local Afghan Army the skills he learned during his training. Sergeant Johnson is remembered as a courageous and skillful solider by his commanding officers. Naming a highway after him would be a fitting way to commemorate his legacy as an extraordinary soldier and would ensure that he did not become a distant memory.

Legislative Analyst:  Drew Krogulecki

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

                                                                                  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.