ALLOW CITY AND COUNTY JAIL

PERSONNEL TO CARRY CONCEALED WEAPONS

House Bill 6394 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Rick Jones

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 11-30-06

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 6394 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE 11-29-06

The bill would allow correctional officers in county jails and certain employees in a city jail or lockup to carry a concealed weapon.  Specifically, the bill would amend Public Act 372 of 1927 (MCL 28.432a), which regulates the sale, possession, and carrying of firearms, to allow a person regularly employed as local corrections officer by a county sheriff or a person regularly employed in a city jail or lockup who has custody of persons detained or incarcerated in the jail or lockup to carry a concealed weapon.  However, the person would need written authorization from the county sheriff (local corrections officers) or chief of police or county sheriff (city jail or lockup) and would have to be trained in the use of force.  Also, these individuals could only carry the concealed weapon during the performance of duties or while going to or returning from duties.

"Local corrections officer" would mean that term as defined in Section 2 of the Local Corrections Officers Training Act.  (Section 532 of that act defines the term as meaning any person employed by a county sheriff in a local correctional facility as a corrections officer or that person's supervisor or administrator.)

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no fiscal impact on state government but an indeterminate fiscal impact on local governments, since local governments may experience cost reductions from not paying for permits when corrections and jail officers carry pistols while performing their duties.

POSITIONS:

Shooters Alliance for Firearms Rights (SAFR) testified in support of the bill as amended.  (11-29-06)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                  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.