MEMBERS:
SEN. SUE SHINK, MAJORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. PAUL WOJNO
SEN. JEFF IRWIN
SEN. SYLVIA SANTANA
SEN. JIM RUNESTAD, MINORITY VICE CHAIR
SEN. RUTH JOHNSON
THE SENATE
COMMITTEE ON CIVIL RIGHTS,
JUDICIARY, AND PUBLIC SAFETY
SENATOR STEPHANIE CHANG
CHAIR
4100 BINSFELD OFFICE BUILDING
P.O. BOX 30036
LANSING, MICHIGAN 48909-7536
PHONE: (517) 373-7346
FAX: (517) 373-9320
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
March 21, 2024
A meeting of the Senate Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety was scheduled for Thursday,
March 21, 2024, at 12:00 p.m., in the 1200 Room of the Binsfeld Office Building.
The agenda summary is as follows:
1. Testimony regarding SB 599 (Sen. Geiss).
2. Testimony regarding HB 4948 Rep. Grant).
3. Testimony regarding HB 4960 (Rep. Snyder).
The Chair called the meeting to order at 11:37 a.m. A quorum was not present.
The Chair brought up SB 599, and invited Sen. Geiss to summarize the bill.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding SB 599:
Kyle Kaminski, Michigan Department of Corrections – Support
At 12:14 p.m., Sen. Johnson entered the meeting. A quorum was now present.
The Chair instructed the Clerk to call the roll. At that time, the following members were present: Chair Chang,
Sen.(s) Irwin, Santana and Johnson, a quorum was present.
The Chair entertained a motion by Sen. Irwin to adopt the meeting minutes from March 14, 2024. Without
objection, the minutes were adopted.
The Chair continued testimony regarding SB 599:
Jazmine Wells, Safe and Just Michigan – Support
John Cooper, Safe and Just Michigan – Support
Dr. Joy Obayemi, MD – Support
Justin Counts, Safe and Just Michigan – Support
Maria Goellner, FAMM - Support
The cards were read of those individuals not wishing to present testimony regarding SB 599:
Kimberly Starr, Self – Support
Natalie Holbrook – Combs, American Friends Service Committee – Support
Harvey Santana, Alliance for Safety and Justice – Support
Charmie Gholson, Citizens for Prison Reform – Support
Kay Perry, MI – CURE – Support
Carol Jacobsen, Professor, University of Michigan – Support
Joe Haveman, Hope Network – Support
Larry Smith, Self – Support
Tony Gant, Nation Outside – Support
The Chair brought up HB’s 4948 and 4960, and invited Rep. Grand and Jason Collela from Rep. Snyder’s office
to summarize the bills.
The Chair invited the following individuals to present testimony regarding HB’s 4948 and 4960:
William Lawrence, Nation Outside – Support
The cards were read of those individuals not wishing to present testimony regarding HB’s 4948 and 4960:
John Cooper, Safe and Just Michigan – Support
Tony Gant, Nation Outside – Support
Liz Black, ACLU Michigan – Support
Erica Edwards, Self – Support
Jim Schaafsma, Michigan Poverty Law Program – Support HB 4948
Holly Tatman, Apartment Association of Michigan – Support HB 4948
Erika Farley, Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County – Support HB 4948
Rachel Richards, Michigan League for Public Policy – Support HB 4948
Dave Worthams, Michigan Manufactures Assoc – Oppose HB 4960
Leah Bacon, Center for Employment Opportunities – Support HB 4960
Dave Worthams, Michigan Department of Civil Rights – Support HB 4960
The Chair moved to excuse absent members from the meeting. Without objection, Sen.(s) Shink, Wojno and
Runestad were excused from the meeting.
There being no further business before the committee, the Chair moved to adjourn the committee. Without
objection, the committee was adjourned at 1:00 p.m.
Date adopted by committee: 04/18/2024