REIMBURSEMENT FOR ARSON-RELATED EXPENSES 

House Bill 5556 as introduced

Sponsor:  Rep. Larry C. Inman

Committee:  Judiciary

Complete to 4-18-16

SUMMARY:

The bill would allow a court to order a person convicted of the crime of arson to reimburse the state or local government for expenses related to the incident.

House Bill 5556 would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure (MCL 769.1f).  Under existing Michigan law, a court may order the defendant, as part of the sentence for a conviction of certain offenses, to also reimburse a governmental unit for its expenses related to the incident: for instance, the defendant could be ordered to reimburse a city for ambulance or fire services it provided, and for the expenses incurred by the county or city for prosecuting the crime.

Under the bill, a court could also impose these governmental reimbursement costs on a person who committed a violation of, or attempted to violate, the arson statutes, MCL 750.72-750.79.  The bill is tie-barred to House Bill 5431.

[The code specifies the expenses for which reimbursement may be ordered. Currently, expenses include salaries or wages of law enforcement personnel involved in the arrest, investigation, report writing, etc.; salaries or wages of fire department and emergency medical service personnel for time spent in responding to and providing firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical services; the cost of medical supplies lost or expended while providing firefighting and emergency medical services; and salaries or wages for prosecution personnel for time spent investigating and prosecuting the crime resulting in conviction.]

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on the state and on local units of government.  The fiscal impact would depend on the number of persons ordered to reimburse the state or local units for expenses incurred in relation to incidences of arson, and would depend on the expenses they were ordered to pay.

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Susan Stutzky

                                                                                                Fiscal Analyst:   Robin Risko

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