State Sen. Michael Webber (R-Rochester Hills) and Rep. Mark Tisdel (R-Rochester Hills) introduced measures that would eliminate from the Michigan Constitution slavery as a punishment for crime.

Senate Joint Resolution G and House Joint Resolution G would remove an exception for slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. In its current state Section 9 of Article 1 of the Michigan Constitution, reads, “Neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude unless for the punishment of crime, shall ever be tolerated in this state.”

“This is a commonsense update to something that doesn’t belong in the Michigan Constitution in the first place,” Webber said. “I am confident this important correction will receive support from all sides of the aisle and in both chambers.”

If approved by the Legislature, the proposed constitutional amendment would be placed on the ballot during the next general election.

In 2022, four states approved ballot measures to ban slavery or involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime, according to a report from the Associated Press. This includes Alabama, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont.

“There should be no exceptions to our Constitution’s ban on slavery and involuntary servitude,” Tisdel said. “I am proud to introduce this crucial and long-overdue amendment to our state constitution, and I look forward to working in a bipartisan manner to get it done.”