THEFT OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER H.B. 6022 (S-1):
FLOOR SUMMARY
[Please see the PDF version of this analysis, if available, to view this image.]
House Bill 6022 (Substitute S-1 as reported)
Sponsor: Representative Mary Valentine
House Committee: Judiciary
Senate Committee: Judiciary
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Penal Code to make theft of a catalytic converter a felony punishable by up to five years' imprisonment and/or a maximum fine of $10,000.
Under the Code, a person who commits larceny by stealing or unlawfully removing or taking any wheel, tire, air bag, radio, stereo, clock, telephone, computer, or other electronic device in or on any motor vehicle, house trailer, trailer, or semitrailer, is guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years and/or $10,000. The bill would include in that prohibition stealing or unlawfully removing or taking a catalytic converter.
In addition, the Code includes graduated penalties, based on value of property and/or prior convictions, for entering or breaking into a motor vehicle, trailer, house trailer, or semitrailer. The Code lists items that may establish the existence of a prior conviction. The bill would include in that list a copy of a court register of actions.
The bill would take effect on April 1, 2009, and is tie-barred to Senate Bill 1193 (which also would make theft of a catalytic converter a felony punishable by up to five years and/or $10,000).
MCL 750.356a Legislative Analyst: Patrick Affholter
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have an indeterminate fiscal impact on State and local government. There are no data to indicate how many offenders would be convicted of stealing, unlawfully removing, or taking a catalytic converter from a motor vehicle. Currently, offenders would be subject to penalties based on the value of the property. To the extent that the bill increased incarceration time, local governments would incur increased costs of incarceration in local facilities, which vary by county. The State would incur increased costs of incarceration in a State facility at an average annual cost of $32,000. Additional penal fine revenue would benefit public libraries.
Date Completed: 12-11-08 Fiscal Analyst: Lindsay Hollander
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. hb6022/0708