SB 277

Under current law, the Department of Transportation (DOT) administers a

Local Roads Improvement Program (program) to assist counties, cities, villages, and

towns (political subdivisions) in improving seriously deteriorating local roads.

Under the program, DOT may reimburse a political subdivision for up to 50 percent

of the eligible costs of a completed improvement. An "improvement" is defined to

include a highway construction project with a projected design life of at least ten

years. With limited exceptions, improvements are eligible for reimbursement under

the program only if they are made under contract awarded on the basis of competitive

bidding.

Under this bill, a qualified, registered professional engineer employed by a

political subdivision may perform engineering work for an improvement of the

political subdivision and this engineering work is eligible for reimbursement under

the program.