LANSING, Mich. — Sen. John Damoose and Rep. Betsy Coffia have introduced legislation to give the Northwest Regional Airport Authority — which oversees the Cherry Capital Airport — as well as the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority the option of expanding contributions to employees’ medical benefit plans. These bills are a reintroduction of Coffia’s House Bill 4618 of 2023.
“This legislation will level the playing field by allowing these final two regional airport authorities to be able to voluntarily enhance their employee medical benefit plans, as all other regional airport authorities already have the ability to do,” said Coffia, D-Traverse City. “I am proud to partner with Sen. Damoose on this legislation, and I want to thank the Northwest Regional Airport Authority for bringing this issue to my attention.”
Damoose said this change will lay the groundwork for the airport to provide additional support for employees.
“Passing this legislation will help our regional economies flourish and improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “By doing so, we are supporting our regional airport authorities’ efforts to attract and retain talent as a means of alleviating staffing shortages while supporting employees’ basic needs.”
While other regional airport authorities in Michigan already have this ability, the Northwest Regional and Gerald R. Ford International authorities have been prohibited because they were created under a different chapter of the state Aeronautics Code. This legislation, correcting an apparent legal oversight, establishes that all regional airport authorities can exempt themselves from contribution limits to an employee’s medical benefits plan, with the consent of their boards.
“Cherry Capital Airport is the state’s third largest airport with a dedicated and passionate team of employees as the driving force of daily operations,” said Cherry Capital Airport CEO and Legislative Chair of the Michigan Association of Airport Executives Kevin Klein. “This legislation would be a tremendous asset in allowing us to retain our hardworking employees and remain competitive in a growing market. It is imperative that we continue to offer a strong benefits package to union and nonunion employees supporting the state’s vital airport economy.”
Among the legislation’s supporters are the Northwest Regional Airport Authority/Cherry Capital Airport, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority, the Michigan Association of Airport Executives, Teamsters 214 and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport units of the United Auto Workers, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Command Officers Association of Michigan.
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