KNIVES; RESTRICTIONS                                                                                                                 H.B. 4066 (S-1):

                                                                                                                                                                                SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                                                                                REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 4066 (Substitute S-1 as reported)

Sponsor:   Representative Andrew Fink

House Committee:   Local Government and Municipal Finance

Senate Committee:   Local Government

CONTENT

The bill would enact the "Michigan Knife Rights Act" to prohibit a political subdivision of the State from enacting any ordinance, rule, or tax regarding knives that was more restrictive than State law.

Specifically, a political subdivision in the State would be prohibited from enacting any ordinance, rule, or tax relating to the transportation, carrying, storage, sale, transfer, purchase, gift, devise (i.e., the act of giving property by will), licensing, registration, or use of a knife or knife making components that is more restrictive than state law. The proposed Act also would prohibit a political subdivision from enacting any rule or ordinance relating to the manufacture of a knife that was more restrictive than any rule or ordinance relating to the manufacture of any other commercial goods.

Any rule or ordinance adopted by a political subdivision enacted before or after the bill's effective date that conflicted with the proposed Act would be void.

                                                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Christian Schmidt

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill could result in a reduction in revenue collections for any local government that currently has an ordinance that prohibits the transportation or carrying of knives. Infractions of local ordinances typically result in civil fine or imprisonment, or both, depending on the ordinance. The bill would void these ordinances, which could result in lowered jail costs as well as a loss in penal fine revenue. A loss in penal fine revenue would affect local and county libraries, the entities who receive this revenue. Additionally, local governments could realize savings from the costs associated with incarceration. The impact on revenue for a local government and libraries is indeterminate and would depend on what activities the local ordinance restricted, which varies by local unit of government.

Date Completed:   10-8-21                                                                             Fiscal Analyst:   Joe Carrasco

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.