Bulletins

Legislative

Criminal Background Checks

“Criminal history” is an ugly phrase. In 2005, lawmakers passed legislation requiring school districts to perform criminal history checks on those individuals who regularly and continuously work under contract at a school. The intent of this law was to require criminal background checks only on employees working directly with pupils
Labor

Teamster Wage & Fringe Adjustment Effective 4/01/06 UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION ONLY

Please see the following pdf document regarding the Teamster Wage & Fringe Adjustment effective 4/01/06 for UNDERGROUND CONSTRUCTION ONLY! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bob Patzer at MITA by calling (517) 347-8336 or via email at bobpatzer@mi-ita.com.   Adjustment to Underground Teamsters 2-27-06.pdf
Legislative

State Transportation Funding Initiative

The MITA State Transportation Funding Initiative is now up and running at full speed. The initiative, that has been named the Drive MI Campaign, is a three-prong effort, which will ultimately push for a comprehensive increase in Michigan’s overall transportation investment strategy. The three components to this initiative include: Fundraising
Legislative

February Legislative Update

2006-07 Budget Debate Begins Recently, Governor Jennifer Granholm introduced her 2006-07 Executive Budget Proposal, which included the MDOT Transportation Budget. This budget proposal includes an increase in the road and bridge program due to increased federal funding and a significant number of projects from the Jobs Today Initiative ($418 million
Legal

Adverse Ruling on Differing Site Condition Claim

On December 20, 2005, the Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Triangle Excavating Company, Inc. v. Covert Township, rejecting a DSC claim due to lack of written notice and refusing to consider constructive notice. The opinion, thankfully, was unpublished and thus is merely “persuasive authority” which a trial court
Legislative

Governor to be Keynote Speaker at MITA’s Annual Conference

Governor Granholm will be attending the MITA Annual Conference on Friday, January 20, and will address the group at the luncheon beginning at 12:00 noon in the Saginaw Chippewa Ballroom at the Soaring Eagle Casino. The Governor’s 2006 State of the State Address is scheduled for Wednesday, January 25 at
Legislative

Truck Bills To Go Into Effect 1/1/06

On November 29, 2004, Governor Granholm signed into law House Bill 4358. This piece of legislation will become effective on January 1, 2006. The new law allows a driver to rebalance the lift-axles making a turn or merge before being weighed. The definition of a “misload” is recognized and puts
Legislative

Governor Signs Sewer Bill and other Legislative News

Governor Signs Sewer Grant Bill MITA is extremely encouraged by the Governor signing into law a package of bills that will result in more sewer work throughout the state and thus help to improve the condition of Michigan’s aging sewer infrastructure systems. The package of bills will expand the allowable
Legislative

New Legislative Action Center

In our constant effort to keep you up-to-date and involved in the current legislative events and issues that affect your industry, we have added another informational source and feature to our web site. Legislative Action Center “Capwiz” is a link on our legislative page that provides grassroots advocacy products and
Legislative

Executive Summary – Future Highway and Public Transportation Finance

Please view the report (summary), which was commissioned by the National Chamber Foundation (a division of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce). This report suggests that the Federal Highway Trust Fund could become insolvent by 2008. You will find this to be interesting reading and fodder for our effort here at
Legislative

Katrina Relief Funding will spare cash-strapped Highway Trust Fund

A new Bush Administration request to spend $2.325 billion to repair and rebuild highways and bridges damaged by Hurricane Katrina will be paid by the general fund of the U.S. Treasury, according to the Bureau of National Affairs. Under SAFETEA-LU, Congress designated $100 million to be spent each year out
Legislative

Legislative Update

Federal Transportation Funding (SAFETEA-LU) & Hurricane Katrina The recent catastrophic disaster resulting from Hurricane Katrina has caused some in Washington D.C. to suggest that funds recently authorized in the six-year transportation act (SAFETEA-LU) be reallocated to offset the cost of disaster relief for the gulf coast region. However, there are