PROHIBIT ASSISTED SUICIDE - S.B. 200 (S-1): FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 200 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor: Senator William Van Regenmorter

Committee: Judiciary

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to prohibit and provide penalties for assisting in a suicide or attempted suicide.

A person would be guilty of criminal assistance to the killing of an individual if the person knew that an individual intended to kill himself or herself and, with the intent to assist the individual in killing himself or herself, did any of the following:

-- Provided the means by which the individual attempted or committed suicide.

-- Participated in an act by which the individual attempted or committed suicide.

-- Helped an individual plan to attempt or commit suicide.

Criminal assistance to the killing of an individual would be a felony, punishable by up to five years' imprisonment, a maximum fine of $10,000, or both.

The bill would not apply to withholding or withdrawing medical treatment.

Proposed MCL 750.329a - Legislative Analyst: P. Affholter

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have an indeterminate, yet likely minimal fiscal impact on State and local government.

The new crime proposed by the bill could result in increased prison commitments for those individuals convicted of knowingly assisting in a suicide. While there are no data currently available that might indicate the potential number of annual violators, the number is not expected to be significant. As a point of reference, a prisoner incarcerated for five years costs the State approximately $75,000.

Date Completed: 12-3-97 - Fiscal Analyst: K. Firestone

floor\sb200

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.