CRIMINAL LIABILITY; UNMANNED AIRCRAFT S.B. 919:
SUMMARY OF INTRODUCED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
Senate Bill 919 (as introduced 3-21-18)
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act to specify that, for the purposes of the penal law of Michigan, an unmanned aircraft system would be an extension of the individual who was operating it.
In a prosecution for a violation of a penal law of Michigan, it would not be a defense that a person used an unmanned aircraft system to carry out the violation.
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
Proposed MCL 259.320 Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill could have a negative fiscal impact on the State and local government. It is not known whether the provisions of the bill would lead to more misdemeanor and felony convictions, but they would not lead to a reduction. More misdemeanor and felony convictions could increase resource demands on community supervision, jails, and correctional facilities. The average cost to State government for felony probation supervision is approximately $3,024 per probationer per year. For any increase in prison intakes, in the short term, the marginal cost to State government is approximately $3,764 per prisoner per year. Any associated increase in fine revenue increases funding to public libraries.
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.