Public Act 387 of 2012

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• Introduced by Sen. Tom Casperson (R) on January 26, 2012, to create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority (previously called DARTA) covering Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes with the approval of a majority of the aggregate of all votes cast in an election (meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase). The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes other motorists could not use. This is part of Gov. Rick Snyder’s road and transit tax proposal.
  • Referred to the Senate Transportation Committee on January 26, 2012.
    • Reported in the Senate on March 15, 2012, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-3) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
  • Substitute offered in the Senate on November 27, 2012. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Dave Hildenbrand (R) on November 27, 2012, to require any authority tax vote take place on a November general election date. The amendment passed by voice vote in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Rebekah Warren (D) on November 27, 2012, to require the proposed authority to spell out the relative roles of itself and Detroit and other cities that currently get dirent federal transit funds once the authority becomes the main or sole channel for this money. The amendment failed by voice vote in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on November 27, 2012, to require that, of the two members of the board counties would get to appoint, one be named by the county executive and one by the county board. The amendment failed 5 to 31 in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
  • Amendment offered by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D) on November 27, 2012, to require that any tax imposed by the authority must be approved not only by a majority of voters in the region, but also by a majority in a majority of the region's cities, villages and townships. The amendment failed 15 to 21 in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
    Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Passed 22 to 16 in the Senate on November 27, 2012, to create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Moved to reconsider by Sen. Arlan Meekhof (R) on November 27, 2012, The vote by which the bill was passed. The motion passed by voice vote in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
• Received in the Senate on November 27, 2012, to create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit. Passed 24 to 14 in the Senate on November 27, 2012.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Received in the House on November 27, 2012.
  • Referred to the House Transportation Committee on November 27, 2012.
    • Reported in the House on December 5, 2012, without amendment and with the recommendation that the bill pass.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. David Nathan (D) on December 5, 2012, to revise details of the Detroit mayor's selection of board members for the proposed authority. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on December 5, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Douglas Geiss (D) on December 5, 2012, to revise details of the selection of Wayne County representatives on the proposed authority's board. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on December 5, 2012.
  • Amendment offered by Rep. Charles Smiley (D) on December 5, 2012, to prohibit local governments in the authority region from using zoning or other means to block the operations of this proposed government mass transit agency or the construction of infrastructure intended to support it. The amendment failed by voice vote in the House on December 5, 2012.
• Passed 57 to 50 in the House on December 6, 2012, to create a new Detroit area regional transportation authority covering Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties, and potentially others. Among other powers the authority could levy property taxes (special assessments) and higher local vehicle registration taxes if approved by a majority of voters in the region, meaning a particular community could not “opt out” of the tax increase. The authority would be specifically authorized to create “rolling rapid transit” corridors along some streets and highways, potentially with dedicated lanes that other motorists could not use. It would be run by a board appointed by the counties and the City of Detroit.
  Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No"
• Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder on December 19, 2012.