SUMMARY OF SENATE BILLS 317 and 318 as introduced 2-21-95:

Senate Bills 317 and 318 would amend the Department of Corrections (DOC) law and the Crime Victim's Rights Act, respectively, to require the entry of information into the Law Enforcement Information Network (LEIN) and notice to crime victims when a prisoner legally changed his or her name.

Senate Bill 317

The DOC law requires that the Department of Corrections make an entry into the LEIN when a prisoner escapes from a State correctional facility or a parole violation warrant is issued. The bill specifies that the DOC also would have to make a LEIN entry when a prisoner had his or her name legally changed.

In addition, the DOC law requires that the Department make available on line to the LEIN, by way of the Corrections Management Information Network, information pertaining to a prisoner's transfer into a community residential program, a prisoner's transfer into a minimum custody correctional facility, and changes in a person's parole status. The bill would require that the provided information include a prisoner's former name, if applicable.

Senate Bill 318

The Crime Victim's Rights Act requires that, upon the written request of a victim of a crime, a county sheriff or the DOC mail to the victim certain information about a prisoner who was sentenced for commission of that crime. The bill would add to the list of information that must be provided to a victim notification that a prisoner had his or her name legally changed.

MCL 791.265d (S.B. 317) Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter 780.769 (S.B. 318)

FISCAL IMPACT

The bills would have no fiscal impact on State or local government. The DOC already is required to enter information regarding escapes and parole violations into the LEIN system. Adding legal name changes should not result in increased costs to the Department.