TARGETING PUBLIC BUILDINGS - S.B. 939: COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 939 (as introduced 12-11-01)
Sponsor: Senator John J. H. Schwarz, M.D.
Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit obtaining or possessing a blueprint, evacuation plan, or other diagram or description of a public building, or engaging in surveillance of a public building, for the purpose of committing a felony with the intent to do any of the following:
-- Intimidate or coerce a civilian population of Michigan or of a Michigan local unit of government.
-- Influence the policy of the State or a local unit by intimidation or coercion.
-- Affect the conduct of the State or a local unit by murder, assassination, or kidnapping.
A violation of the bill would be a felony punishable by imprisonment for life or any term of years, a maximum fine of $20,000, or both. If the violation caused the death of any individual, the violator would have to be imprisoned for life without the opportunity for parole and could be fined up to $50,000.
"Public building" would include both of the following:
-- A building owned or operated by Federal, State, or local government or by a public university.
-- A privately owned building, enclosure, or other facility, all or part of which was regularly open to the public.
Proposed MCL 750.411t - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
Senate Bill 939 would have an indeterminate impact on State government. There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of a violation. A convicted offender would be subject to up to life in prison. The State would incur the cost of incarceration at an average annual cost of $25,000 per prisoner.
- Fiscal Analyst: B. WicksallS0102\s939sa
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.