PUBLIC THREAT ALERT SYSTEM H.B. 4061:
SUMMARY OF HOUSE-PASSED BILL
IN COMMITTEE
House Bill 4061 (as passed by the House)
Sponsor: Representative Bradley Slagh
House Committee: Government Operations
Senate Committee: Regulatory Reform
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Public Threat Alert System Act to do the following:
-- Prohibit the activation of the public threat alert system plan to transmit the announcement of a new law or executive order unless it was necessary to do so to respond to immediate or nearly immediate loss of life or property.
-- Modify the definition of a "public threat".
Under the Act, the Department of State Police (MSP) must establish and maintain the public threat alert system plan. The plan must be designed to rapidly disseminate useful information to radio and television stations in Michigan and to wireless devices through the existing wireless emergency alert system operated under Federal law. The plan may be activated only in accordance with policies established by the MSP.
Under the bill, the public threat alert system plan could not be activated to transmit an announcement of a new law or executive order, including transmitting to wireless devices through the existing wireless emergency alert system operated under Federal law, unless it was necessary to do so to respond to an immediate or nearly immediate loss of life or property.
"Public threat" means a clear, present, persistent, ongoing and random threat to public safety. The term includes an act of terrorism, an unresolved mass shooting, or an unresolved mass shooting spree. Under the bill, "public threat" would mean a clear, present, persistent, ongoing and random threat to public safety that is likely to lead to an immediate or nearly immediate loss of life or property. The term would include, in addition to those events already included, a natural disaster, including a severe storm or flood; an industrial explosion; a train derailment; or an announcement of an endangered missing individual.
MCL 28.672 & 28.673 Legislative Analyst: Christian Schmidt
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
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.