Criminal procedure: other; violation of tampering with utility shut-off procedures; decriminalize under certain circumstances. Amends title & secs. 282 & 383a of 1931 PA 328 (MCL 750.282 & 750.383a).

This bill modifies Michigan's laws regarding utility theft by creating a specific exemption from criminal charges for people who restore water service to their own homes after a shut-off due to non-payment. Under the new provisions, individuals caught bypassing a meter or regulator to regain water access for their occupied residence will face a state civil infraction instead of a misdemeanor or felony, provided they do not damage the metering equipment. Penalties for these civil infractions range from community service to fines, with stricter consequences for repeat offenses. The change aims to decriminalize a situation often driven by financial hardship while still allowing utility companies to pursue civil damages for the cost of the service used.