State Rep. Jim Lower of Greenville today introduced a plan to modify the state’s emergency manager law, replacing the single person emergency management structure with a three-person Financial Management Team.

The plan is part of a larger reform package addressing the safety and security of Michigan’s drinking water supply.

“This proposal to update the state’s emergency manager law is an important part of a bipartisan effort to keep our state’s drinking water and recreational waterways safe for Michigan families for generations to come,” said Lower who chairs the House Committee on Local Government and Municipal Finance. “Michigan families deserve to know the fresh water that defines this great state is safe to drink, bathe in and fish in. This plan helps ensure that government is held accountable to manage public water resources well with a more open and transparent three-person committee.”

The bill put forward by Lower builds on the recommendations from a 2016 legislative committee and replaces the single-person emergency management structure with a three-person committee made up of one financial expert, one local government operations expert and one local ombudsman.

Lower, who was first elected to the Michigan House in 2016, has been a leader on improving municipal finance since coming into office. He spearheaded a plan to help local governments better manage their finances in 2017.

In addition to Lower’s plan— House Bills 4753-4755— the entire, 30-bill reform proposal looks at water quality across the board: from improving municipal safeguards and oversight to tightening up environmental protection and conservation.

Ensuring safe drinking water has become a top concern across the state due to the condition of our state’s water infrastructure systems and the detection of PFAS contamination at more than 1,100 sites, Lower noted.

House Bills 4753-4755 has been referred to the House Committee on Government Operations.