The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard HB 1235 concerning drug offenses authored by Reps. Steuerwald, Koch, McNamara, Goodin. The bill makes a prior conviction of dealing in synthetic drugs an enhancing circumstance for the purpose of sentencing for dealing in controlled substances offenses and makes the minimum sentence for a Level 2 felony conviction under IC 35-48-4-1 … [Read more...] about Drug offenses
Criminal
Department of Child Services reporting
The Senate Family and Children Services Committee heard SB 131 on Department of Child Services reporting authored by Sen. Broden and Sen. Grooms. Sen. Broden stated this legislation would define near fatalities to include "life threatening" injuries.” “Life threatening” includes those which are categorized as "serious" or "critical" in hospital records or those which result in crit … [Read more...] about Department of Child Services reporting
Criminal gang activity
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 141 concerning criminal gang activity authored by Sen. R. Michael Young. The author explained that this bill changes the term “criminal gang” to “criminal organization” and provides that a criminal organization is a group organized to commit a crime. Under current law, a criminal gang is a group organized to commit a felony. … [Read more...] about Criminal gang activity
Controlled substances and public servant impersonation
The House Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 174 concerning controlled substances and public servant impersonation authored by Sen. R. Michael Young. In follow-up to last week’s discussion, Sen. Young introduced an amendment to this bill that, as proposed: establishes a Class A misdemeanor for impersonating a public servant with intent to defraud or induce compliance w … [Read more...] about Controlled substances and public servant impersonation
Foreclosure mischief
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard SB 183 concerning foreclosure mischief authored by Sen. Bray. Sen. Bray explained this bill addresses the issue of homeowners in foreclosure intentionally damaging their homes when leaving by establishing a Class A misdemeanor when a person knowingly or intentionally damages, permanently removes an object from, or defaces … [Read more...] about Foreclosure mischief