Bill Text: MI SB0022 | 2023-2024 | 102nd Legislature | Chaptered

Michigan Senate Bill 22

Bill Title: Aeronautics: airports; prohibition of weapons in a sterile area of an airport; clarify, and provide penalties. Amends sec. 80f of 1945 PA 327 (MCL 259.80f).

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2023-12-29 - Assigned Pa 0219'23 [SB0022 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2023-SB0022-Chaptered.html

Act No. 219

Public Acts of 2023

Approved by the Governor

November 22, 2023

Filed with the Secretary of State

November 22, 2023

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 13, 2024

state of michigan

102nd Legislature

Regular session of 2023

Introduced by Senator Damoose

ENROLLED SENATE BILL No. 22

AN ACT to amend 1945 PA 327, entitled �An act relating to aeronautics in this state; providing for the development and regulation of aeronautics; creating a state aeronautics commission; prescribing powers and duties; providing for the licensing, registration, and supervision and control of all aircraft, airports and landing fields, schools of aviation, flying clubs, airmen, aviation instructors, airport managers, manufacturers, dealers, and commercial operation in intrastate commerce; providing for rules pertaining thereto; prescribing a privilege tax for the use of the aeronautical facilities on the lands and waters of this state; providing for the acquisition, development, and operation of airports, landing fields, and other aeronautical facilities by this state, by political subdivisions, or by airport authorities; providing for the incorporation of airport authorities and providing for the powers, duties, and obligations of airport authorities; providing for the transfer of airport management to airport authorities, including the transfer of airport liabilities, employees, and operational jurisdiction; providing jurisdiction of crimes, torts, and contracts; providing police powers for those entrusted to enforce this act; providing for civil liability of owners, operators, and others; making hunting from aircraft unlawful; providing for a repair station operators lien; providing for appeals from rules or orders issued by the commission; providing for the transfer from the Michigan board of aeronautics to the aeronautics commission all properties and funds held by the board of aeronautics; providing for a state aeronautics fund and making an appropriation therefor; prescribing penalties; and making uniform the law with reference to state development and regulation of aeronautics,� by amending section 80f (MCL 259.80f), as added by 2001 PA 225.

The People of the State of Michigan enact:

Sec. 80f. (1) An individual shall not possess, carry, or attempt to possess or carry any of the following in a sterile area of a commercial airport:

(a) Firearm.

(b) Explosive.

(d) Razor, box cutter, or item with a similar blade.

(e) Dangerous weapon.

(2) Except as provided in subsection (3), an individual who violates subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine of not more than $1,000.00, or both.

(3) An individual who violates subsection (1) while doing any of the following is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment for not more than 10 years or a fine of not more than $10,000.00, or both:

(a) Getting on or attempting to get on an aircraft.

(b) Placing, attempting to place, or attempting to have placed on an aircraft an item listed in subsection (1).

(4) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(a) A peace officer of a duly authorized police agency of this state, a political subdivision of this state, another state, a political subdivision of another state, or the United States.

(b) An individual regularly employed by the department of corrections and authorized in writing by the director of the department of corrections to possess or carry an item listed in subsection (1) during the performance of the individual�s duties or while going to or returning from the individual�s duties.

(c) A member of the United States Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard while possessing or carrying an item listed in subsection (1) in the line of duty.

(d) A member of the national guard, armed forces reserves, or other duly authorized military organization while on duty or drill or while possessing or carrying an item listed in subsection (1) for purposes of that military organization.

(e) Security personnel employed to enforce federal regulations for access to a sterile area.

(f) A court officer while engaged in the court officer�s duties as authorized by a court.

(g) An airline or airport employee as authorized by the employee�s employer.

(5) This section does not prohibit the individual from being charged with, convicted of, or punished for any other violation of law committed by that individual while violating this section.

(6) A term of imprisonment imposed under this section may be served consecutively to any other term of imprisonment imposed for a violation of law arising out of the same transaction.

(7) As used in this section:

(a) �Commercial airport� means an airport that has regularly scheduled commercial flights to and from other destinations.

(b) �Felony� means that term as defined in section 1 of chapter I of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 761.1, or a violation of a law of the United States that is designated as a felony or that is punishable by death or by imprisonment for more than 1 year.

A close-up of a signature

Description automatically generated (c) �Sterile area� means a portion of an airport defined in an airport security program approved by the Transportation Security Administration under 49 CFR 1542.101 that provides passengers access to boarding aircraft and to which the access generally is controlled by the Transportation Security Administration, or by an aircraft operator under 49 CFR part 1544 or a foreign air carrier under 49 CFR part 1546, through the screening of individuals and property.