Senate Bill 410 Summary

• Creates the Michigan governmental authority for new international trade crossings as a public body corporate within the Department of Transportation with a 5-member board appointed by the governor with senate advice and consent.

• Authorizes the authority to research, plan, design, finance, construct, operate, and maintain international bridges and approaches between Michigan and Ontario, Canada, including power to charge user fees and enter into public-private agreements with terms up to 50 years.

• Permits governance agreements with Canadian public agencies under the urban cooperation act, allowing creation of separate joint venture entities; prohibits state funds for project costs and restricts availability payments, with bonds payable solely from project revenue and contributions.

• Establishes that bonds issued are not general obligations of the state, exempts authority activities and bonds from taxation, and allows private sector participation in financing and operating crossings under competitive procurement processes.

• Automatically repeals the act on January 1, 2015 if the authority has not entered into a governance agreement by December 31, 2014, unless the department director files notice that delays are due to legal challenges or factors beyond the authority's control.