The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1358 authored by Reps. Morris, Carbaugh, Beau, and Moed on use of unmanned aerial vehicles. The bill allows a law enforcement officer to use an unmanned aerial vehicle to obtain aerial photographs or video images of a crime scene without first obtaining a search warrant in certain instances. The bill also provides that a person … [Read more...] about Use of unmanned aerial vehicles
Criminal
Terrorism and extortion
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Freeman’s SB 240 on terrorism and extortion. The bill does the following: repeals and replaces in a new article the offense of possession, use, or manufacture of a weapon of mass destruction, agricultural terrorism, terroristic mischief, and terroristic deception specifies that "terrorism" includes the unlawful threat o … [Read more...] about Terrorism and extortion
Air or gas operated weapons on school property
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Koch’s SB 383 on air or gas operated weapon on school property. The bill provides that a person who knowingly or intentionally points an air or gas operated weapon designed to expel a metal projectile at another person while present on a school bus or property affiliated with, belonging to, or operated by an accredited n … [Read more...] about Air or gas operated weapons on school property
Drug penalties
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Koch’s SB 519 on drug penalties. The bill provides that if a person commits the offense of dealing or an attempt or conspiracy to commit dealing; in a controlled substance, the person may be tried in any county where the person performed an act in furtherance of the offense. The bill also replaces heroin with cocaine or a n … [Read more...] about Drug penalties
Victims of criminal acts
For amend and vote only, the Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard Sen. Messmer’s SB 551 on victims of criminal acts. The bill provides the following: that a new registration period may be imposed if a sex or violent offender fails to register or improperly registers as a sex or violent offender prohibits records held by the Department of Child Services to be di … [Read more...] about Victims of criminal acts