ASMSU’s Student Assembly voted unanimously last week to oppose two legislative bills that would affect college students.

One bill deals with making it possible to serve jail time for a minor in possession charge, the other would make using a fake ID a felony.

Joe Mignano, external vice chairman for Student Assembly, said these bills deal with students and they needed to be addressed.

“We look out for students - that’s why we’re here,” he said.

Mignano said MSU’s undergraduate student government believes the bills inflict harsh penalties and are directly geared toward college students.

“We’re not condoning these activities,” he said. “But does the punishment fit the crime? - we felt no.”

Dan Bennett, director of legislative affairs for ASMSU, said the state House bill that dealt with IDs had some serious issues.

“The intent of the bill is to cut down the problem of people who steal credit cards or identities, but they tried to lump students who use fake IDs with those people,” Bennett said.

The bill makes anyone using, altering or providing an ID to buy alcohol liable for a felony, punishable by imprisonment of not more than 5 years or a fine of not more than $10,000 or both.

If the bill becomes law, Bennett said those who are convicted of violating the law can plead for a lesser punishment, but the felony will stick with them.

“That will follow you for the rest of your life,” he said. “It would kill your academic career.”

Bennett encourages students to write to their representatives to oppose the bill because there’s still time.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Jennifer Faunce, R-Warren, and is waiting to be voted on. Faunce was not available for comment.

The other bill, which would increase the maximum penalties for MIPs, has already passed through the state House and is now in the state Senate.

The law would be amended to include a sentence of up to 90 days in jail. The current law doesn’t make an MIP infraction punishable by jail time.

Rep. Virg Bernero, D-Lansing, said the bill was presented to bring attention to the problem of alcohol abuse.

“It’s not my intent, and that of the majority, to incarcerate youngsters,” Bernero said. “My understanding is that jails are usually always full, and we don’t want to run a hotel for young people who couldn’t handle their alcohol.”

And Bernero said jail time is for repeat offenders, not for people who pay their fine and perform community service or take classes. The decision would be up to the judge and issued on a case by case basis.

“It’s basically adding a hammer for the judge of what could be done,” he said. “This is for noncompliant individuals and from my understanding, they have to work hard to get jail time.”

Journalism junior Matt Furst said he understands the reasoning behind the identity theft bill because of the terrorist attacks, but the MIP penalty isn’t worth it.

“Alcohol has always been a part of society, and I don’t think these penalties will necessarily deter students,” he said. “They should focus on something more pertinent.”

Megan Bell, an interior design freshman, said the bills are ridiculous and jail cells are already filled anyway.

“Students shouldn’t be punished for doing stupid things - it’s college,” she said.