ASMSU is MSU’s undergraduate student government.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Rick Jones, R-Grand Ledge, would amend the Michigan Liquor Control Code to protect minors from facing legal punishment if they seek help for alcohol overconsumption.

ASMSU Vice Chairperson for Governmental Affairs Victor Draine said ASMSU has supported the bill through the Michigan Legislature for several years but the bill never garnered enough support to pass. Draine said ASMSU tried to appeal to the new Republican members of Congress in writing the language of the bill and said he hopes the bill will be passed this semester.

The bill passed in the Senate Judiciary Committee in May and has moved to the Senate floor for continued discussion.

The victory in the committee was a big stepping stone toward passing the bill, ASMSU Director of Media Relations Samantha Artley said.

If the bill passes in the Senate, it will move to the House of Representatives for discussion and a vote, Draine said.

Jones supported a similar unsuccessful bill last year and decided to sponsor the bill again this year. He was unsure how far this year’s bill would go in the Senate but hoped enough people would support it for passage.

ASMSU has pushed for the medical amnesty legislation after adopting a “Good Samaritan” bill in 2008 that encouraged students at MSU and East Lansing to seek medical help without worrying about being charged with a minor in possession, or MIP.

ASMSU officials testified in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in May to show the student body’s support in passing the bill.

Jones, who worked in law enforcement for more than 30 years, said he saw a number of cases in which people “drank themselves to death.” He said in some of those cases, people were more concerned about legal issues than their health.

“I hope that most students will … call regardless of getting an MIP, but I realize there’s a certain amount of people who will not call because they’re worried about getting in trouble,” he said.

Hospitality business senior Kristen Ciechanowski said the law would be beneficial for all students but especially underclassmen who are under the legal drinking age.

“They’re the ones who have reason to be afraid to call the hospital,” she said.

Ciechanowski said enacting a medical amnesty law would encourage more people to call for help if necessary.

Jones said seeing people “causing their own death” showed the necessity of the bill and said students should show their support to senators.

“It’s important to get some help so there isn’t another death,” Jones said.