S.B. 969: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - TWP SUPERVISOR: CCW LICENSE

Senate Bill 969 (as introduced 3-3-98)

Committee: Hunting, Fishing and Forestry

Date Completed: 3-23-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend Section 6 of the handgun licensure Act, which sets forth the current procedures for issuing concealed weapon licenses, to delete a provision that allows a concealed weapon license applicant who does not live in a city, village, or township with an organized police department, to submit the application to the township supervisor for approval or rejection. The provision further specifies that if an application is not approved, the applicant may appeal to the concealed weapon licensing board in the county within 10 days after the objection.

Under the provision to be deleted, the board must schedule a hearing to be held at its next meeting, at least 15 days after receiving a fingerprint comparison report, at which it will determine whether the applicant is qualified to carry a concealed weapon pursuant to the Act. Notice of the hearing must be mailed to the applicant and the township supervisor at least 10 days before the scheduled hearing, and the applicant must deposit $10 with the county clerk. If a license is not issued, the deposit must be credited to the general fund of the county or, if a license is issued, the deposit is processed as the license fee.

The bill would retain provisions that require the approval of the supervisor, commissioner or chief of police, or marshal of a city, village, or township that has an organized police department, before the concealed weapon licensing board may issue a license. Currently, the Act specifies that the prosecuting attorney, the sheriff, and the Director of the Department of State Police, or their authorized deputies, must constitute a board to issue a concealed weapons license to applicants in their county. An applicant must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a State resident for at least six months; must have a good reason to fear injury to his or her person or property, or have "other proper reasons"; and must be a "suitable person to be licensed". Further, an applicant must not have been convicted of or confined for a felony within the previous eight years, or have a pending felony charge; must not have been adjudged insane or legally incapacitated, or be under an order of involuntary commitment; and must not be the subject of an order entered into the Law Enforcement Information Network under various sections of the law.

MCL 28.426 - Legislative Analyst: N. Nagata

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

- Fiscal Analyst: B. Baker

- R. RossS9798\S969SA

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.