TROOPER JEFFREY WERDA MEMORIAL HIGHWAY

House Bill 4843 as enacted

Public Act 71 of 2012

Sponsor:  Rep. Joel Johnson

House Committee:  Transportation

Senate Committee:  Transportation

Complete to 3-21-18

SUMMARY:

House Bill 4843 amends the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate a portion of highway M-61 from the eastern city limit of the city of Gladwin to the intersection of highway M-61 and highway M-30 in Gladwin County as the “Trooper Jeffrey Werda Memorial Highway.”

MCL 250.1070

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

In the early morning of April 6, 2011, Saginaw County Central Dispatch put out a call that deputies from the Saginaw County Sheriff’s Office were involved in a vehicle pursuit in the southwest corner of Saginaw County. Trooper Jeffrey Werda was in the village of Birch Run and, with lights and siren activated, headed in the direction of the pursuit to assist the deputies.

While going westbound on Birch Run Road near Morrish Road in Taymouth Township, Trooper Werda lost control of his patrol vehicle. It left the roadway and rolled several times. A passerby reported the incident, and emergency responders transported Trooper Werda to Covenant Hospital in Saginaw. He died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash. Trooper Jeffrey Werda was the fiftieth Michigan State Police officer to die in the line of duty.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Section 2 of the Michigan Memorial Highway Act indicates that the State Transportation Department shall provide for the erection of suitable markers indicating the name of the highway “when sufficient private contributions are received to completely cover the cost of erecting and maintaining those markers.” As a result, the bill has no state or local fiscal impact.

                                                                                         Legislative Analyst:   E. Best

                                                                                                 Fiscal Analyst:   William E. Hamilton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.