FORGERY; ELECTIONS LAW                                                                  H.B. 5992 (H-3):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5992 (Substitute H-3 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Steve Marino

House Committee:  Elections and Ethics

Senate Committee:  Elections and Government Reform

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Election Law to specify that, except as otherwise provided in the Law, a person who knowingly did either of the following for any purpose would be guilty of forgery:

-- Made, filed, or otherwise published a false document with the intent to defraud.

-- Made, filed, or otherwise published a document that contained false signatures with the intent to defraud.

Under the Law, a person found guilty of forgery, unless otherwise provided in the Law is punishable by a maximum fine of $1,000 or by up to five years' imprisonment, or both.

MCL 168.933a                                                          Legislative Analyst:  Nathan Leaman

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could have a negative fiscal impact on the State and local government. More felony arrests and convictions could increase resource demands on law enforcement, court systems, community supervision, jails, and correctional facilities. The average cost to State government for felony probation supervision is approximately $3,024 per probationer per year. For any increase in prison intakes, in the short term, the marginal cost to State government would be approximately $3,764 per prisoner per year. Any associated increase in fine revenue would increase funding to public libraries.

Date Completed:  12-3-18                                                   Fiscal Analyst:  Abbey Frazier

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.