LANSING –Military personnel deployed for 180 days or more would find it easier to cancel a cell phone contract without penalty under a new proposal.

The change has been in the works for a while, Sen. Valde Garcia, R- Howell, the primary sponsor of the bill said. Troops deployed overseas have been stuck paying for cell phone service they’re unable to use.

“They’re overseas through no fault of their own. They’ve been asked to serve their country, it just made sense to make it so they can cancel their service without penalty,” he said.

The bill is part of a legislative package aimed at making things easier for military personnel that emerged after six months of hearings with various veteran groups, Joe Agostinelli, legislative director for Sen. Jason Allen, R-Traverse City, said.

“We tried to make sure we’re doing all we can for this new group of veterans being called up to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said.

Allen, along with Sens. Michael Pruis, D- Ishpeming; Roger Kahn, R-Saginaw; John Pappageorge, R-Troy; Glenn Anderson, D-Westland; Alan Cropsey, R-DeWitt; Patricia Birkholz, R-Saugatuck; Randy Richardville, R-Monroe; and Mark Jensen, R-Grand Rapids, are the co-sponsors of the proposal.

Alesha Gensler, Garcia’s legislative director, said that while some wireless providers allow military personnel to cancel their contracts without penalty, it’s often a stressful process.

“You have to initiate a conversation with them and it’s not always a guarantee,” she said. “This bill would guarantee the ability to get out of the contract, as long as you can prove you’ve been deployed.”

Joe Steele, a communications officer with AT&T, said his company already allows such cancellations if they move to a non-AT&T coverage area.

“We want our military members to be connected to their friends and family, but if they’re sent to a non-coverage area, we understand that,” he said.

Under the proposal a wireless provider that fails to comply with the law would face a fine of up to $2,000. The proposal has been referred to the committee for Senior Citizens and Veterans Affairs. Illinois has a similar law in place.