SCHOOL BUS DESTRUCTION H.B. 4155 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 4155 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Allen Lowe
House Committee: Judiciary and Civil Rights
Senate Committee: Education
The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to specify that a person would be guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine of up to $5,000 for intentionally damaging, destroying, or altering a school bus without the permission of the entity that owned the bus if that damage, destruction, or alteration created a health or safety hazard to any individual who was occupying or could occupy that school bus. The bill specifies that it would take effect August 1, 1995.
“School bus” would mean the term as defined in the Michigan Vehicle Code and would include a school transportation vehicle, as defined in the Vehicle Code, if that vehicle were clearly marked as a school transportation vehicle.
Proposed MCL 750.377c Legislative Analyst: S. Margules
The bill would have an indeterminate impact on State and local government.
Under current law, a person convicted of damaging a school bus can be charged with a felony with a maximum penalty of four years if the damage is more than $100. The bill would increase that to up to five years regardless of the amount of damage. The State could incur increased costs if judges increased sentence lengths for school bus vandalism because of the new law. Reportedly, however, youths convicted of such a crime in Crawford County received a fine, probation, and community service. The increased penalties in the bill in that case would not have resulted in increased costs.
Date Completed: 3-7-95 Fiscal Analyst: M. Hansen
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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.