The bill now will move on to the House floor, where it likely will pass easily before facing what could be a hard road in the Senate. A previous amnesty bill passed the House with the support of all but seven representatives before getting stuck in a senate committee, where it died at the end of 2010.

“At virtually every college campus, this will have a positive effect on the way that we deal with underage drinking — at least in terms of saving lives,” said State Rep. Mark Meadows, D-East Lansing.

Although similar bills have garnered support in the past, the few lawmakers against it worry it could provide an excuse for underage binge drinking.

“It’s a way for a minor to say, ‘All I have to do is present myself, then I’m off the hook,’” said State Rep. Lisa Brown, D-West Bloomfield.

ASMSU Director of Governmental Affairs Aaron Letzeiser testified in front of the committee with State Rep. Anthony Forlini, R-Harrison Township, who sponsored the bill. ASMSU representatives, who make up MSU’s undergraduate student government, have long supported medical amnesty legislation, helping push several forms of the bill.

Although Meadows sponsored previous bills, lawmakers and students hope moving it to a Republican sponsor will be more effective in pushing it through the Republican-controlled Senate.

East Lansing police have operated on their own amnesty standard, opting not to arrest students who choose to turn themselves, Chief Juli Liebler said.

Liebler, East Lansing Mayor Diane Goddeeris and 69th district candidate Susan Schmidt attended the hearing to support the bill.

Another amnesty bill in the Senate passed committee as well, but has not yet been brought up on the floor.