HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REP. KARA HOPE
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, June 18, 2024
9:00 AM
Room 519, House Office Building
The House Committee on Criminal Justice was called to order by Chair Hope.
The Chair requested attendance be called:
Present: Reps. Hope, Andrews, Tyrone Carter, Breen, Young, Arbit, Dievendorf,
Tsernoglou, Filler, Mueller, Bezotte, Harris, BeGole.
Absent: None.
Excused: None.
Representative Andrews moved to adopt the meeting minutes from June 11, 2024. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
The Chair laid SB 599 before the committee:
SB 599
(Sen. Geiss)
A bill to amend 1953 PA 232, entitled
"Corrections code of 1953," by amending sections
34 and 35 (MCL 791.234 and 791.235), section 34
as amended by 2019 PA 14 and section 35 as
amended by 2019 PA 13.
Brian Merlos, Chief of Staff to Senator Geiss, testified in support of SB 599. Questions and
discussion followed.
Kyle Kaminski, representing the Michigan Department of Corrections, testified in support of
SB 599. Questions and discussion followed.
John Cooper and Jazmine Wells, both representing Safe and Just Michigan, testified in
support of SB 599.
Joy Obayemi, representing Michigan Medicine, testified in support of SB 599.
Eden Kinlock, representing FAMM, testified in support of SB 599. Questions and discussion
followed.
At 9:36 AM, the Chair laid the committee at ease.
At 9:38 AM, the Chair called the committee back to order.
The following people submitted a card in support of SB 599, but did not wish to speak:
Rachel Richards, Fiscal Policy & Government Relations Director for the Michigan
League for Public Policy.
Gabrielle Dresner, representing the ACLU of Michigan.
Justin Counts, representing Safe and Just Michigan.
Nikki Scott, representing the Alliance for Safety and Justice.
Bill Wortz, representing Arnold Ventures.
Brandon Lanyon, representing the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
The following person submitted a card in opposition to SB 599, but did not wish to speak:
Matt Saxton, representing the Michigan Sheriffs' Association.
Chair Hope moved to adopt substitute (H-1) to SB 599. The motion prevailed 13-0-0:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Hope, Andrews, Tyrone Carter, Breen, Young, Arbit, Dievendorf,
Tsernoglou, Filler, Mueller, Bezotte, Harris, BeGole.
Nays: None.
Pass: None.
Representative Young moved to report out SB 599 with recommendation, as substitute (H-1).
The motion prevailed 8-0-5:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Hope, Andrews, Tyrone Carter, Breen, Young, Arbit, Dievendorf,
Tsernoglou.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Filler, Mueller, Bezotte, Harris, BeGole.
The Chair laid HB 5788 before the committee:
HB 5788
(Rep. Hope)
A bill to enact the uniform public expression
protection act; and to provide protections and
remedies to persons sued for exercising rights to
expression and other constitutionally protected
rights.
The following person submitted a card in support of HB 5788, but did not wish to speak:
Jess Averill, representing the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and
Treatment Board.
Representative Tyrone Carter moved to report out HB 5788 with recommendation. The
motion prevailed 10-0-3:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Hope, Andrews, Tyrone Carter, Breen, Young, Arbit, Dievendorf,
Tsernoglou, Filler, Mueller.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Bezotte, Harris, BeGole.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Hope adjourned the meeting at
9:41 AM.
Representative Kara Hope, Chair
Melissa Sweet
Committee Clerk
msweet@house.mi.gov