AB399: Bill Text

LRB-2175/3

ARG:nwn:md

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 399

August 26, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Smith, Jorgensen, Berceau, Clark, Turner, Petrowski, Brooks, Vruwink and Gottlieb, cosponsored by Senators Kreitlow and Lehman. Referred to Committee on Transportation.

AB399,1,3 An Act to amend 86.31 (2) (b); and to create 86.31 (2) (cm) of the statutes; relating to: costs eligible for reimbursement under the Local Roads Improvement Program administered by the Department of Transportation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

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.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB399, s. 1 Section 1. 86.31 (2) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB399,2,8 86.31 (2) (b) Except as provided in par. pars. (cm) and (d), improvements for highway construction projects funded under the program shall be under contracts. Such contracts shall be awarded on the basis of competitive bids and shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. If a city or village does not receive a responsible bid for an improvement, the city or village may contract with a county for the improvement. A town may contract with a county for the improvement subject to the criteria and procedures promulgated as rules under sub. (6) (h).

AB399, s. 2 Section 2. 86.31 (2) (cm) of the statutes is created to read:

AB399,2,13 86.31 (2) (cm) 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 sub. (4).

AB399, s. 3 Section 3. Initial applicability.

AB399,2,16 (1) This act first applies to improvements for which engineering work is commenced on the effective date of this subsection.

AB399,2,17 (End)