Senator Birkholz asked and was granted unanimous consent to make a statement and moved that the statement be printed in the Journal.
The motion prevailed.
Senator Birkholz’s statement is as follows:
This bill, Senate Bill No. 795, and its companion bill that Senator Cropsey is sponsoring is the very hard work of one of the most respected judges in the state of Michigan, actually across the United States, and that is Eaton County Judge Harvey Hoffman. He and now-retired Judge Smay from Kalamazoo are known as the godfathers of the drug courts. They started pilots for drug courts which eventually became very successful. They were the leaders. This work lead to the sobriety courts and drug courts being replicated across the United States—a way to put accountability into this system and to help families.
This bill is the next step. It will allow us to use an ignition interlock system which checks the BAC before, even when and when not driving. This way we can make sure that in the sobriety courts for the most egregious, addicted alcoholics can have a real tough-love program to help them to get their lives back.
Our judges are doing what we have asked them, as legislators, to do. We have asked them to help people, to help save lives, and to make more accountability in this system; thus, a less costly system. This is about accountability to our communities but also to many families across the state of Michigan.
I would encourage any of you who have not to visit a drug court and to see a graduation ceremony. It is truly something remarkable to behold when you can see families reestablished and put back together again. You do have an invitation on your desks to visit one next week. It is right across the street, and I hope you will join us.
So we are talking about saving lives and helping families be more together and to be healthy again and reduce the prison population. So I hope that you will support us in passing this bill today and help move Michigan forward in that regard at the same time.