S.B. 199: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - FORGED STATE I.D. CARD

Senate Bill 199 (as introduced 2-13-97)

Sponsor: Senator William Van Regenmorter

Committee: Government Operations

Date Completed: 4-8-97

CONTENT

The bill would amend Public Act 222 of 1972, which provides for the issuance and use of a State personal identification card, to prohibit a person from possessing an official State personal identification card that had been reproduced, altered, counterfeited, forged, or duplicated. A person who violated the bill's prohibition would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year. The bill would not apply to a law enforcement officer in the performance of his or her duties.

Currently, under the Act, a person who intentionally reproduces, alters, counterfeits, forges, or duplicates an identification card or who uses such a card is: 1) guilty of a felony if the intent of reproduction, alteration, counterfeiting, forgery, duplication, or use was to commit or aid in the commission of an offense punishable by imprisonment for one or more years; or 2) guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine up to $1,000, or both if the intent of the reproduction, alteration, counterfeiting, forgery, duplication, or use was to commit or aid in the commission of an offense punishable by imprisonment for up to one year. Further, the Act provides penalties for persons who steal or, without a cardholder's permission, knowingly take or remove a person's official State identification card, or use a stolen or removed card.

MCL 28.295 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State government, and likely only minimal fiscal impact on local government.

To the extent that persons would be convicted for possessing a reproduced, altered, counterfeited, forged, or duplicated State personal identification card, which under the bill would be a misdemeanor, costs for arresting, prosecuting and sanctioning these offenders at the local level could increase. While there are no data readily available that would indicate the number of potential annual violators, the number is not estimated to be significant.

- Fiscal Analyst: M. Hansen

S9798\S199SA

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.