Mandates the consolidation of highway maintenance baseyards of the state and counties.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that the consolidation of services between the state and counties is a long-standing issue. Over the years, many studies were conducted over what services, departments, or other functions of government were duplicative. The legislature also finds that consolidation of services create efficiencies and savings by reducing duplication of services between the counties and states. One area mentioned in the most recent study on this issue is that of road maintenance baseyards.

Both the counties and the state repair and maintain roadways. Each level of government has the means for the public to contact them in order to point out areas in need of road repair. At this point in time, however, it is desirable to have multiple crews repairing and maintaining roadways due to the sheer amount of work to be done. It is not necessarily desirable, however, for each county and the state to maintain separate and distinct baseyards. Both baseyards provide a place to store materials and tools, as well as vehicles. Consolidation of baseyards could result in cost savings for each county. The purpose of this Act is to begin the process of consolidating services by consolidating the road maintenance baseyards of the state and counties.

SECTION 2. The governor, mayors of each county, and their respective transportation department heads shall convene at a time of mutual convenience to implement the consolidation of county and state road maintenance baseyards. Any legislation necessary to accomplish this task shall be presented to the legislature no later than forty days prior to the opening of the 2006 Regular Session. If legislation is not required to consolidate the baseyards, consolidation shall be completed no later than July 1, 2006.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.