LANSING, Mich. (AP) - A Michigan legislative committee passed a bill Tuesday that would require candidates for public office to reveal their felony records.
The House Elections and Ethics Committee voted 9-0 to send the bill to the full House.
If signed into law, candidates would have to reveal any felony convictions in the previous 10 years as part of their affidavits of identity. It excludes juvenile convictions.
Candidates now must supply their addresses, a statement of U.S. citizenship and a statement on whether all prior campaign finance reports have been filed and any late fees paid.
The move follows the election of two convicted felons to the Flint City Council in November 2013. Neither would have been covered because their convictions were two decades old.
Had the law been in effect in November 2012, it would have affected state Rep. Brian Banks, D-Harper Woods, according to the Detroit Free Press. It said he has eight felony convictions in 1998-2004, for crimes including writing bad checks and credit card fraud.
State Sen. Bert Johnson, D-Highland Park, also has a felony record for armed robbery he committed more than 20 years old. His record was widely known before his elections to the state House and Senate. Johnson has declared his candidacy for the 14th District U.S. House seat now held by Democrat Gary Peters, who is stepping down to run for the U.S. Senate.
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The Bill is House Bill 4825
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Information from: Detroit Free Press, https://www.freep.com
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