S.B. 862: COMMITTEE SUMMARY - HOSPITAL: PROHIBIT ACTIVITIES

Senate Bill 862 (as introduced 2-4-98)

Date Completed: 3-2-98

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to prohibit an individual from entering upon the premises of a hospital for the purpose of engaging in an activity that would cause a reasonable person to feel, and that actually caused a hospital employee, patient, or visitor to feel, terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested. A person who violated the prohibition would be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of at least $1,000 but not more than $10,000, or both.

The bill would not prohibit "constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose".

MCL 333.21528 - Legislative Analyst: G. Towne

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on local government and no fiscal impact on State government.

There are no data to indicate how many people may be convicted of intimidating, threatening, harassing, or molesting hospital personnel, patients, or visitors. To the extent that the proposed legislation would create a misdemeanor with up to 12 months of incarceration and/or a fine, local government would incur the cost of incarceration or receive fine revenues.

- Fiscal Analyst: K. Firestone

S9798\S862SA

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.