CAMPUS OFFICERS AT PRIVATE COLLEGES:

CERTIFY AS POLICE OFFICERS

House Bill 4591

Sponsor:  Rep. Brian Palmer

Committee:  Higher Education and Career Preparation

Complete to 4-18-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4591 AS INTRODUCED 4-12-05

House Bill 4591 would amend the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards Act (MCL 28.602) to allow certain law enforcement officers at independent, nonprofit colleges and universities to be certified as law enforcement officers.

Under the law, the definition of a "police officer," or "law enforcement officer" has seven  meanings including a regularly employed member of a law enforcement agency, a law enforcement officer of an Indian tribal police force, a sergeant-at-arms in the legislature, a law enforcement officer of a multi-county metropolitan district, a county prosecuting attorney's investigator who is empowered by a county sheriff, certain law enforcement officers in large school districts, and fire arson investigators in Detroit. 

House Bill 4591 would retain these definitions and add an eighth, so that "police officer" or "law enforcement officer" also would include a regularly employed law enforcement officer of an independent, nonprofit college or university in this state who was responsible for the prevention and detection of crime and the enforcement of the general criminal laws of the state, if both of the following apply:  a) the law enforcement officer obtained his or her law enforcement authority by being deputized by a county sheriff or by being sworn and fully empowered by a city chief of police or chief of public safety under a municipal charter or ordinance; and b) the law enforcement officers of that college or university had previously been granted certification under this act by the commission at any time before the effective date of this legislation.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The fiscal impact is indeterminate at present.  A fiscal review is continuing.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Jan Wisniewski

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.