Aids for certain highways damaged by a disaster. (FE)

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, if a highway that is not on the state trunk highway system is damaged by a disaster, the county or municipality that has jurisdiction over the highway may petition the Department of Transportation for payment of disaster damage aid. A “disaster” is any of the following: 1) a severe storm, flood, fire, tornado, mudslide, or other natural event external to a highway; 2) the sudden failure of a major element or segment of the highway system due to a cause that is external to a highway, but not including any failure primarily attributable to gradual and progressive deterioration or lack of proper maintenance of a highway; or 3) an event or recurring damage caused by any governmental unit or person acting under the direction or approval of, or permit issued by, any governmental unit and in response to an event described in item 1) or 2). Upon receipt of a petition, DOT must make an investigation and determine whether to grant aid, the amount of the aid, and the conditions under which aid is granted. For an event described in item 1) or 2), the amount of aid is 75 percent of the repair or replacement cost and, if reconstructing improved facilities is warranted, an additional 50 percent of the increased cost of constructing the improved facilities.

Under this bill, for an event described in item 1) or 2), the amount of aid for constructing improved facilities is increased from 50 percent to 75 percent of the increased cost resulting from the improvement not to exceed $75,000.

Who's behind it

16 lawmakers are its authors⁠. All 16 are Democrats.

8 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.