Michigan House Bill HB4469

Michigan 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/25/23
• Refer: 4/25/23

Caption

Corrections: prisoners; provision of revised judicature act relating to disciplinary credits; eliminate. Amends sec. 5513 of 1961 PA 236 (MCL 600.5513). TIE BAR WITH: HB 4470'23

Impact

The enactment of HB4469 could lead to stricter controls on the actions of prisoners relating to civil lawsuits. By allowing courts to penalize prisoners who misuse the legal system for harassment or malicious actions, the bill intends to enhance the overall integrity of the judicial process. This could also impact how inmates perceive their ability to file lawsuits, potentially leading to fewer frivolous claims being lodged, thereby relieving some pressure on the court's resources.

Summary

House Bill 4469 seeks to amend the Revised Judicature Act of 1961 by enabling courts to revoke a prisoner's good time and disciplinary credits under certain conditions. Specifically, the bill allows for revocation if a prisoner files a prohibited action and if the claim is deemed malicious, intended to harass another party, or if the prisoner has presented false evidence or testified falsely during court proceedings. This is a significant shift aimed at discouraging frivolous lawsuits filed by prisoners, which can sometimes burden the legal system.

Contention

There may be notable points of contention regarding the implications of this bill, particularly around the definition of what constitutes a 'malicious' or 'frivolous' claim. Critics of the bill might argue that it could deter legitimate claims from prisoners who may feel that their access to the court system is being restricted. Additionally, there could be concerns regarding how this law will be enforced and whether it would unfairly target certain populations within the prison system, potentially leading to abuses of discretion by judges.