MI HB4851

Adds new prohibition against intentionally using professional position of authority to prevent or attempt to prevent another person from reporting specific crimes listed in sections 136b, 520b, 520c, 520d, 520e, or 520g.

Violations of the new authority-based prevention provision are prosecuted under existing penalty structure: misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year imprisonment or $1,000 fine, or felony punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment or $20,000 fine if violence or threats are involved.

Maintains existing prohibitions against withholding testimony, preventing crime reporting through physical force, tampering with evidence, and retaliation against crime reporters.

Provides affirmative defense for subsection (3) violations if conduct was solely lawful and intended only to encourage truthful statements, with burden of proof on defendant.

Takes effect 90 days after enactment.