Senate Bill 1124 as passed by the Senate

First Analysis (5-18-00)

House Committee: Conservation

Senate Committee: Government

THE APPARENT PROBLEM:

The Senate Law Revision Task Force was established in June 1999 and asked to review existing state statutes and to recommend the repeal or amendment of those laws that were found to be arcane and/or irrelevant to present-day life in Michigan. To identify such laws, the task force sought the input of the public, the law enforcement community, and various legal associations and entities, including the Michigan Law Revision Commission, the State Bar of Michigan, legislators, judges, and prosecutors. After review, the task force issued a report in December 1999 recommending that various laws or sections of laws be repealed or eliminated.

THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:

Senate Bill 1124 would repeal Public Act 229 of 1887, which provides for liens on forest products for labor or services performed, among other things, in manufacturing lumber or shingles, or cutting, skidding, falling, hauling, banking, driving, running, rafting, or booming logs, timber, posts and poles.

MCL 426.1 - 426.15

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

The House Fiscal Agency notes that the bill would have no fiscal impact on the state or on local governmental units. (4-25-00)

ARGUMENTS:

For:

The state's compilation of its laws was begun over 160 years ago. While many laws that became outdated, inapplicable, or inappropriate have been repealed or eliminated, many other laws enacted long ago that are now of questionable relevance and remain on the books. The Senate Law Revision Task Force was established to review existing statutes and recommend the repeal of laws found to be arcane or irrelevant. The task force pointed out that arcane or irrelevant laws that remain enforceable are detrimental to the public. The task force report stated that Michigan residents must be free from the threat of the state's arbitrarily enforcing laws that are arcane or irrelevant to modern life; that residents must not be required to be aware of and abide by laws that no reasonable person can know exist; and that government resources should not be used perpetuating and/or imposing arcane or irrelevant laws upon its citizens. This bill would repeal or delete statutes or parts of statutes recommended for repeal or deletion by the task force.

POSITIONS:

There are no positions on the bill.

Analyst: J. Hunault

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.