HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON CRIMINAL JUSTICE
REP. KARA HOPE
CHAIR
COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Tuesday, February 27, 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.
Chair Hope offered the following proposed Committee rules:
1. For any item of legislation considered by the committee, at least 1 meeting will be called at
which the public may address the committee regarding that item of legislation. Oral
testimony may be limited at the discretion of the committee chair. The Committee may accept
written testimony in lieu of oral testimony.
2. All testimony shall be on the subject matter pertaining to the committee agenda.
Representative Andrews moved to adopt the proposed Committee rules. The motion
prevailed 10-0-2:
FAVORABLE ROLL CALL
Yeas: Reps. Hope, Andrews, Tyrone Carter, Young, Arbit, Dievendorf, Tsernoglou,
Mueller, Bezotte, BeGole.
Nays: None.
Pass: Reps. Filler, Harris.
The Chair laid HB 4427 before the committee:
HB 4427
(Rep. Young)
A bill to amend 1976 PA 442, entitled "Freedom of
information act," by amending sections 1, 2, 3,
and 5 (MCL 15.231, 15.232, 15.233, and 15.235),
section 1 as amended by 1997 PA 6, section 2 as
amended by 2018 PA 68, section 3 as amended by
2018 PA 523, and section 5 as amended by 2020
PA 36.
Representative Young testified in support of HB 4427. Questions and discussion followed.
Ken Nixon, representing Safe and Just Michigan and the Organization of Exonerees, testified
in support of HB 4427.
Darrell Siggers, exoneree after 34 years, testified in support of HB 4427. Questions and
discussion followed.
Chuck Warpehoski, representing the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration,
testified in support of HB 4427.
Amanda Wallwin, representing the Innocence Project, testified in support of HB 4427.
Mark Hartman and Susie Greenbauer, both representing Humanity for Prisoners, testified in
support of HB 4427.
Kyle Kaminski, representing the Michigan Department of Corrections, came forward to
answer questions. Discussion followed.
The following people submitted a card in support of HB 4427, but did not wish to speak:
Charmie Gholson, representing the Citizens for Prison Reform.
Rachel Richards, representing the Michigan League for Public Policy.
Gabrielle Dresner, representing the ACLU of Michigan.
Kay Perry, representing the Michigan Chapter of Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of
Errants (MI-CURE).
Marla Mitchell-Cichon, representing the Cooley Innocence Project.
Elizabeth Cole, representing the Michigan Innocence Clinic, University of Michigan Law
School.
John Cooper, representing Safe and Just Michigan.
Noah Smith, representing the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.
Tony Grant, representing Nation Outside.
Representative Breen moved to adopt the meeting minutes from February 13, 2024. There
being no objection, the motion prevailed by unanimous consent.
There being no further business before the committee, Chair Hope adjourned the meeting at
9:51 AM.
Representative Kara Hope, Chair
Melissa Sweet
Committee Clerk
msweet@house.mi.gov