HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION L

A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state constitution of 1963, by amending sections 15 and 16 of article I to prohibit the imposition of money bail and to provide certain procedures regarding conditions of release.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Michigan, That the following amendment to the state constitution of 1963, to prohibit the imposition of money bail and to provide certain procedures regarding conditions of release, is proposed, agreed to, and submitted to the people of the state:

article I

Sec. 15. No person shall be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy. All persons shall, before conviction, be bailable, by sufficient sureties, except that bail may be denied for the following persons when the proof is evident or the presumption great:

(a) A person who, within the 15 years immediately preceding a motion for bail pending the disposition of an indictment for a violent felony or of an arraignment on a warrant charging a violent felony, has been convicted of 2 or more violent felonies under the laws of this state or under substantially similar laws of the United States or another state, or a combination thereof, only if the prior felony convictions arose out of at least 2 separate incidents, events, or transactions.

(b) A person who is indicted for, or arraigned on a warrant charging, murder or treason.

(c) A person who is indicted for, or arraigned on a warrant charging, criminal sexual conduct in the first degree, armed robbery, or kidnapping with intent to extort money or other valuable thing thereby, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is not likely to flee or present a danger to any other person.

(d) A person who is indicted for, or arraigned on a warrant charging, a violent felony which is alleged to have been committed while the person was on bail, pending the disposition of a prior violent felony charge or while the person was on probation or parole as a result of a prior conviction for a violent felony.

If a person is denied admission to bail under this section, the trial of the person shall be commenced not more than 90 days after the date on which admission to bail is denied. If the trial is not commenced within 90 days after the date on which admission to bail is denied and the delay is not attributable to the defense, the court shall immediately schedule a bail hearing and shall set the amount of bail for the person.

As used in this section, "violent felony" means a felony, an element of which involves a violent act or threat of a violent act against any other person.

This section, as amended, shall not take effect until May 1, 1979.

Sec. 16. (1) Excessive Except if it is required by an interstate compact in which this state has entered or for purposes of extradition, money bail or bail with sureties shall not be required. ; excessive Before a person is convicted the court shall release the person on his or her own recognizance unless after a hearing the court finds that the person is highly likely to willfully flee, poses a specific real and present threat to a person, or has violated a protection order or an existing condition of release. In order for the court to find that the person is highly likely to willfully flee, there must be circumstances present indicating the likelihood of flight beyond a simple history of nonappearance. The court may impose nonmonetary conditions of release necessary to reasonably ensure appearance at trial or to protect an identifiable person from imminent harm.

(2) Excessive fines shall not be imposed; cruel or unusual punishment shall not be inflicted; nor shall witnesses be unreasonably detained.

Resolved further, That the foregoing amendment shall be submitted to the people of the state at the next general election in the manner provided by law.