SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4155 as passed by the House:

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 could be fined up to $5,000 for intentionally damaging or destroying a school bus without the permission of the entity that owned the bus and in such a manner that the damage or destruction posed 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: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

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. The bill would increase that to up to five years. The State could incur increased costs if judges increased sentence lengths for school bus vandalism because of the new law. According to a recent House Legislative Analysis of the bill, however, youths convicted of such a crime in Crawford County reportedly received jail, probation, and community service. The increased penalties in the bill in that case would not have resulted in increased costs.

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.

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