THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ON PUBLIC PROPERTY

House Bill 4433 (Substitute H-1)

Sponsor:  Rep. Tom Casperson

Committee:  Government Operations

Complete to 3-23-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 4433 AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE 3-22-05

The bill would create a new act to allow the display of documents or objects that may be primarily religious in nature or origin and that have had an impact on the state's and country's history, including the Ten Commandments, on public property if (1) it is displayed with other documents, public records, or objects of historical significance that have formed and influenced the legal or governmental system of the United States; and (2) it is displayed in the same manner as other documents, public records, or objects displayed at the same time and location, and the display does not focus more attention on it than on the other documents, records, or objects.

The term "public property" refers to a building or land owned, possessed, or leased by the state or by a county, city, township, village, school district, or other governmental unit.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The bill would have no obvious fiscal impact.

POSITIONS:

The Citizens for Traditional Values supports the bill. (3-15-05)

The ACLU of Michigan opposes the bill. (3-22-05)

The Michigan Jewish Conference opposes the bill. (3-22-05)

The Anti-Defamation League opposes the bill. (3-22-05)

The National Council of Jewish Women opposes the bill. (3-22-05)

                                                                                           Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

                                                                                                  Fiscal Analyst:   Viola Wild

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.