PROHIBIT SMOKING IN COLLEGE DORMITORIES

House Bill 4087

Sponsor:  Rep. Ted Hammon

Committee:  Education

Complete to 6-18-07

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4087 AS INTRODUCED 1-23-07

The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit smoking in college dormitories.

Currently the law prohibits the use of tobacco products on school property, and a person who violates the prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $50.  House Bill 4087 would retain these provisions, but extend them to include college dormitories, and to increase the fine limit to $100.

Under the bill, "college dormitory" would be defined to mean a dormitory operated by a degree- or certificate-granting public or independent non-profit university, college, community college, or junior college.

MCL 750.473

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local units of government.  To the extent that the number of misdemeanor convictions increased, local costs of misdemeanor probation supervision or misdemeanor incarceration, both of which vary by jurisdiction, could increase.  Any increase in penal fine revenues could benefit local libraries, which are the constitutionally-designated recipients of such revenues.

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   J. Hunault

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Marilyn Peterson

■ 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.