Identity Theft bill prohibits anyone from knowingly selling, issuing or offering for sale or issue an ID card or document containing an incorrect name or address. Victims of identify theft may now use an "identity theft passport" issued by the Attorney General to verify their identity. The new law allows sworn affidavit, rather than a court appearance by the victim, as evidence that a credit card or credit card number was taken without authorization. Violators are subject to imprisonment up to two years and fines up to $2,000. (SB468/HB1217)
Privacy of Social Security Numbers (SSN): In addition to 2005 restrictions on the use of an SSN, 2006 legislation prohibits employers, including governmental, from printing a SSN on a paycheck, attachment to a paycheck, direct deposit notice, or notice of credit to a debit card or card account. (HB388)
Privacy of Cellular and Other Telephone Records: To better protect consumers, a person may not knowingly obtain, sell, or receive a telephone record without the customer’s authorization or by fraudulent, deceptive, or false means. (HB1301)
Assault on Correctional Officers is now a felony with maximum penalties of imprisonment for ten years and a fine of $5,000. (HB214)
Funeral Disruption: prohibits knowingly restricting entry to or exit from a funeral, burial, memorial service or funeral procession, addressing a person attending the event in a manner likely to breach the peace, or picketing attendees within 100 feet of the event. Penalties are imprisonment for a maximum of 90 days and a fine of up to $1,000. During the past year groups have protested at the funerals of U.S. Soldiers and Marines (HB850)
Child Abuse: Persons convicted multiple times of first-degree child abuse are subject to enhanced penalties and ineligibility for parole. (SB509/HB59)
Restitution for Drug Cleanup: This bill forces drug dealers to pay the cost to clean up facilities used for the illegal manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance such as methamphetamine, which is extremely hazardous to produce. If a minor is convicted, the minor, the minor’s parent, or both can be ordered to pay restitution. (HB474)
