Last week the House Local Government Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4729, legislation that would require local units to opt out of the Michigan Emergency Management Assistance Compact (MEMAC).

MEMAC has been in existence for over a decade; however, currently local units of government must opt into MEMAC.  HB 4729 would amend that legislation so that a local unit would be automatically included in MEMAC and must opt out.

The League, along with the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, have had concerns about the impact of an opt out program and its effect on local emergency management compacts as well as local liability.

The committee did not vote on the legislation.

Samantha Harkins is the Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  She can be reached at 517-908-0306 or email at sharkins@mml.org