State Police to Enforce Capitol Committee Rules to Ensure Safe Forum

Contact: Shanon Banner, MSP Public Affairs, (517) 241-0955

Agency: State Police

LANSING. With the likelihood of large amounts of visitors at the Capitol on Monday and Tuesday, the Michigan State Police (MSP) will be strictly enforcing the procedures for the use of the Michigan State Capitol, as approved and published by the Michigan Capitol Committee.

"All of the measures we are taking at the Capitol are to ensure the safety of those working and conducting business in the Capitol and the surrounding state buildings," stated Col. Kriste Kibbey Etue, director of the MSP. "Our responsibility includes safeguarding the Constitutional rights of those attempting to petition their legislators, and enforcing these rules allows us to provide a safe forum for everyone."

The full procedures for the use of the public areas of the Michigan State Capitol can be found at http://council.legislature.mi.gov/files/lcfa/cap_event_and_exhibit_planner.pdf. Some of the rules that will be enforced include:

• Hours of Operation (interior of Capitol): Visiting hours for the public are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. When either house of the legislature or a legislative committee is in session prior to 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m., or on Saturday, Sunday or a holiday, the building shall be open to the public 30 minutes before commencement of the session and closed 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate, House of Representatives, or legislative committee.
• Hours of Operation (Capitol grounds): Events or exhibits on the Capitol grounds shall occur between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. on a daily basis, and shall at no time block any entrance or exit of the building, or impede free access to the building by its occupants or the public. When either house of the legislature or legislative committee is in session prior to 6 a.m. or after 11:00 p.m., the grounds shall be open 30 minutes before commencement of the session and closed 30 minutes after adjournment of the Senate, House of Representatives, or legislative committee.
• Public use of the Capitol shall not interfere with any legislative session or the conduct of public business by agencies of the State which normally occupy and use the Capitol, and shall not affect the safety and well-being of the individuals conducting the work of these agencies.
• In case of a fire, bomb threat, utility malfunction, structural failure or other unforeseen emergency or threat endangering public safety or health, the Executive Director of the Michigan Capitol Committee or Capitol security may lock the Capitol at any time and require that entrances be used only as a means of egress in case of emergency. A person shall not enter or attempt to enter through an entrance which is closed pursuant to these conditions until the emergency is over.
• Hand-carried signs and signs on handsticks are not allowed in the public areas inside the Capitol.
• Posting or affixing signs, announcements, or other documents on any exterior or interior wall, ceiling, floor, door, window or other surface of the public areas of the Capitol not designed for that purpose is prohibited. Stickers, labels, tape, or any other adhesive material that might leave a residue or otherwise damage interior or exterior surfaces of the Capitol, including porches, stairs, statuary, monuments, light wells, fences and trees is also prohibited. Likewise, tacks, nails, staples or other attachments may not be used.
• No sound amplifying equipment (including whistles, drums, bull horns, etc.) may be used whose sound level interferes with any legislative session or the conduct of public business by agencies of the State which occupy or use the Capitol.
• Camping or sleeping overnight on the Capitol grounds is not allowed. Sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, and similar bedding items will not be permitted in the Capitol building.
• Packages and briefcases suspected of concealing stolen items or contraband may be inspected. Items being brought into the Capitol may be inspected if suspected to be capable of destructive or disruptive use within the building.
• Proper identification of all employees and any other visitor may be requested at any time after normal working hours. If the facility is closed during an emergency, access may be denied for the duration of the emergency.
• A person who refuses to adhere to any of these conditions is subject, in addition to criminal penalties provided by law, to immediate removal from the Capitol building or grounds, or both, by the Executive Director of the Michigan Capitol Committee, Capitol security, the Legislative Council Facilities Agency (LCFA) Director, or any other person designated by the LCFA Director.

Additionally, area road closures to facilitate ingress and egress will occur this week. Walnut Street between Allegan and Ottawa will be closed to vehicular and foot traffic beginning at 6 a.m. on Monday.

On Tuesday, the City of Lansing will be closing the following streets to vehicular traffic starting at 6 a.m. Parking will also not be available on these streets.

• Capital from Ionia to Allegan
• Michigan from Washington to Capital
• Ottawa from Capital to Walnut
• Allegan from Capital to Walnut
• Walnut from Allegan to Ottawa

The Michigan Capitol Committee includes four representatives from the Executive Branch, Senate and House of Representatives. At no time will enforcement of their procedures be influenced or affected by age, sex, race, national origin, religion or partisan politics.