Senate Bill 594 Summary

• Establishes the "Special Police Agency Act" creating a licensing and regulatory framework for private special police agencies to provide law enforcement services under contract with legally organized entities in Michigan.

• Requires special police agencies to be licensed by the Department of State Police with application fees of $200 for individuals/sole proprietorships and $300 for business entities, including background checks, reference statements, and proof of at least $1,000,000 in liability insurance.

• Permits licensed special police officers (current or recently licensed law enforcement officers) to exercise the same arrest authority as public peace officers, but only during contracted service periods and within specified geographic areas.

• Mandates contracts include specific terms such as service duration, geographic boundaries, arrest procedures, number of officers deployed, and for government entities, written approval from the prosecuting attorney or local police chief.

• Extends governmental immunity protections to special police agencies and their officers when providing authorized law enforcement services, and imposes felony penalties (up to 4 years imprisonment or $5,000 fine) for violations of the act.