The Senate Corrections & Criminal Law Committee heard Sens. Ruckelshaus and Glick’s SB 439 on bias crimes, making it an aggravating circumstance for the purposes of imposing a criminal sentence that the crime was committed with the intent to harm or intimidate an individual because of certain perceived or actual characteristics of the individual. The Committee amended the bill t … [Read more...] about Bias crimes
Criminal
Habitual offender requirements
The House Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1064 authored by Rep. Steuerwald and co-authored by Rep. Pierce on habitual offender requirements. The bill is meant to clarify legislative intent behind the amendments to I.C. § 35-50-2-8(c) that took effect in 2014 and provides that persons convicted of a new level 5 felony offense will qualify for sentencing as a habitual off … [Read more...] about Habitual offender requirements
Bail and bail agent license renewal
The House Insurance Committee heard, for amend and vote only, Rep. Frizzell’s HB 1137 on bail and bail agent license renewal. This bill decreases the bail agent renewal fee from $600 to $300. The bill also requires a court to declare a bail bond obtained by a defendant by deposit of cash or securities forfeited not later than (rather than not earlier than) 120 days after failure of t … [Read more...] about Bail and bail agent license renewal
Cannabidiol
The House Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Friend’s HB 1148 on cannabidiol. Rep. Friend reported the bill was drafted with extensive input from the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council and explained that it is intended to legalize use of the substance cannabidiol, or CBD oil, for use in the treatment of juvenile epilepsy. The bill provides an affirmative defense to th … [Read more...] about Cannabidiol
Organized retail theft
The House Courts & Criminal Code Committee heard Rep. Negele’s HB 1209 on organized retail theft. This bill defines a new level 5 felony offense of organized retail theft as to knowingly: take, procure, receive, conceal, or otherwise exercise control over merchandise of a retail merchant; or use an artifice, an instrument, a container, a device, or another article to facilita … [Read more...] about Organized retail theft