FALSE CLAIM OF MILITARY STATUS S.B. 950 (S-1):
FLOOR SUMMARY
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Senate Bill 950 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Senator Randy Richardville
Committee: Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs
CONTENT
The bill would create the "Stolen Valor Law" within the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit a person from misrepresenting his or her current or former military status when he or she made any of the following claims, orally or in writing or by false display, with the intent to defraud, obtain employment, or be elected or appointed to public office:
-- That he or she was entitled to wear military awards, decorations, or rank.
-- That he or she served in the U.S. Armed Forces, a reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces, or the National Guard.
-- That he or she served in the military during a wartime era, whether or not there was a declared war, or served in a combat zone.
-- That he or she had served, or currently was serving, in the military at a certain location, with a certain rank or rating, or engaged in a certain mission, or any other claim concerning his or her actual military service.
A violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year's imprisonment, a maximum fine of $5,000, or both, and up to 100 hours of community service performed in a veterans home or for a veterans service organization.
The prohibition would not apply to a person or organization that qualified under the bill's exceptions.
Proposed MCL 750.286 Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of the proposed offense. An individual convicted of the offense would be subject to a fine of not more than $5,000, up to 100 hours of community service, and a jail term of up to one year. Local governments would incur the costs of incarceration in local facilities, which vary by county. Any additional penal fine revenue collected would benefit public libraries.
Date Completed: 11-10-09 Fiscal Analyst: Matthew Grabowski
floor\sb950 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
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.
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. sb950/0910