House Bill 5501, sponsored by state Representative Alberta Tinsley-Talabi (D-Detroit), passed through the House Appropriations Committee today and will now move to the full House for consideration. Along with HB 5414 – which was also reported out of committee today the bill would bring an end to the controversial Driver Responsibility Act and the fees associated with it.

“These driver responsibility fees have impacted thousands of Michigan families, and eliminating them will bring much-needed relief to Michigan drivers,” Tinsley-Talabi said. “I have worked hard in both of my terms with the state House to get these fees eliminated, and I could not be more proud that they were reported out of committee today.”

Talabi’s bill would amend Section 4 of the enhanced Driver License and Enhanced Official State Personal Identification Card Act to strike “the assessment of a driver responsibility fee” from the list of licensing sanctions a holder of an enhanced driver license is subject to. If passed, it would take effect Oct. 1, 2017, to coincide with the elimination of driver responsibility fees under HB 5414.

“I’m proud to have been part of the effort to overturn these onerous fees that were damaging the quality of life for so many Michiganders,” said Tinsley-Talabi. “I look forward to working with my colleagues in the full House to see that they are passed and sent to the governor for his signature.”