Snyder signs bill to fund, maintain sex offender registry

Legislation signed Tuesday by the governor will require registered sex offenders to pay a yearly fee to maintain Michigan's sex offender registry. Senate Bill 221, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Jones, requires registered offenders to pay the $50 annual fee, required for as long as the offender is required to be on the registry. The bill is now Public Act 149 of 2013. "This law will help reduce taxpayer costs to maintain Michigan's sex offender registry," Gov. Rick Snyder said. "By requiring registered sex offenders to pay an annual fee to fund the registry website, law enforcement will be able to direct more of its resources to public safety." Previously, registered sex offenders only had to pay a one-time fee, which only provided enough revenue to cover about 10 percent of the cost to maintain the state's sex offender registry. Michigan now joins neighboring states in charging a fee to maintain a sex offender registry website. Indiana also charges $50 per year for its registry, and Illinois and Ohio each charge offenders $100 per year. Snyder also signed these nine other bills: --SB 235, also sponsored by Jones, authorizes a person who is certified by the National Fire Protection Association or the International Code Council to register as a state-approved fire safety system inspector and plan reviewer. It is now PA 150. --SB 332, sponsored by state Sen. John Moolenaar, extends a phosphorous exemption to natural fertilizers. It is PA 151. --SB 471, sponsored by state Sen. Roger Kahn, restricts juvenile criminal history records from being released unless it is required as part of a government-mandated employee criminal background check or in response to a fingerprint-based search. It is PA 152. --SBs 489 and 490, sponsored by state Sen. Jack Brandenburg, revise exemptions of the state's personal property tax for new and existing industrial and commercial personal property. They are PAs 153 and 154. --House Bills 4382, 4383 and 4384, sponsored by state Reps. Kevin Cotter, Andrea LaFontaine, and Ken Kurtz, respectively, revise Michigan's Do-Not-Resuscitate Procedure Act to allow a court-appointed guardian of an incapacitated person the authority to sign a do-not-resuscitate order under certain conditions. The bills are now PAs 155-157. --HB 4930, sponsored by state Rep. Tom Leonard, repeals Section 3 of Public Act 269 of 1929 banning the display of an emblem or insignia of any organization, association, fraternity, lodge or club on a vehicle when the vehicle owner is not a member of the organization. The law was previously invalidated by a 1970s Michigan Court of Appeals ruling. It is PA 158. Visit legislature.michigan.gov for additional information on the legislation. Published: Thu, Nov 7, 2013

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