The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee heard SB 186 on traffic crimes, sponsored by Rep. McNamara. This bill provides: an operator of a motor vehicle who operates a motor vehicle after the operator's driving privileges have been suspended or revoked and causes an accident that results in injury or death to another person commits a separate offense for each person injured or … [Read more...] about Traffic crimes
sentencing
Death or injury to animals
The Senate Corrections and Criminal Law Committee heard HB 1615 on death or injury to animals, sponsored by Sen. Becker. The bill increases the offense level for certain animal cruelty crimes and amends and creates certain definitions for offenses relating to animals. The bill was amended by consent to remove penalty increases from the bill, define "humane euthanasia" and require e … [Read more...] about Death or injury to animals
Crimes involving synthetic drugs
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 28, sponsored by Rep. Negele, addressing crimes involving synthetic drugs. The bill specifies that an enhancing circumstance includes a prior conviction for dealing or manufacturing a substance represented to be a controlled substance, makes certain offenses involving synthetic drugs an enhancing circumstance, removes certain … [Read more...] about Crimes involving synthetic drugs
Terrorism
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 240 sponsored by Representative McNamara regarding terrorism and intimidation. The bill 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. The bill makes providing material support to a … [Read more...] about Terrorism
Misdemeanor penalties
The House Committee on Courts and Criminal Code heard SB 336 sponsored by Representative J. Young addressing misdemeanor penalties. The bill makes numerous misdemeanors civil infractions for the first offense and increases the penalty for obstructing a medical person from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor. The bill repeals the crimes of vending machine vandalism and r … [Read more...] about Misdemeanor penalties