Michigan Bill Would End Polygraph Licensing

[George W. Maschke]

Michigan State Representative Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw Township) has introduced a bill to repeal the state's Forensic Polygraph Examiners Act. Kelly's one-line bill would end the licensing and regulation of "persons who purport to be able to detect deception, verify truthfulness, or provide a diagnostic opinion of either through the use of any device or instrumentation as lie detectors, forensic polygraphs, deceptographs, emotional stress meters or similar or related devices and instruments."

I think this is a great idea. State licensing boards for polygraph examiners bestow an air of legitimacy on a practice that has none. Polygraphers should no more be licensed than tarot card readers.

I don't know the bill's prospects of passing, but one good sign is that its sponsor, Tim Kelly, has been named assistant whip for the current legislative session. He should know how to count and round up votes.

The progress of Kelly's legislation, House Bill 4689, may be tracked here.