The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 167 on theft and sale of catalytic converters and valuable metals, authored by Sen. Sandlin and sponsored by Rep. J. Young and Rep. Davis. The bill does the following: provides that the theft of a component part of a motor vehicle, including a catalytic converter, is a Level 6 felony; expands qualifying prior convictions for Level 6 felony theft to include robbery and burglary; provides that a valuable metal dealer who: (1) knowingly or intentionally fails to comply with certain statutes regulating the purchase of a valuable metal; and (2) purchases a stolen valuable metal; commits a Level 6 felony. The committee amended the bill to remove “valuable metal”.
The Indiana Manufacturers Association, Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council, and Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries testified in support of the bill. The Indiana Public Defender Council testified in opposition to the bill. The amended bill passed 10-1.
Read the bill at: http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2021/bills/senate/167