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Duplicates/Conflicts with/Companion to/Relates to

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC files

SUMMARY

Synopsis of HJC Amendment

The House Judiciary Committee amendment clarifies the definition of the crime of "theft of identity" and the definition of "personal identifying information." The amendment also adjusts the minimum dollar amount of damage classified as a misdemeanor from $1,000 to $250.

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 178 creates a new section of the Criminal Code that makes theft of identity a crime.

Significant Issues

"Theft of identity" consists of a person willfully obtaining personal identifying information (name, address, telephone number, driver's license number, social security number, place of employment, employee identification number, demand deposit account number, savings account number, credit card number or the maiden name of the person's mother) of another person and using the information to obtain money or anything else of value without consent.

Theft of identity when there is no direct fiscal impact on the person who did not authorize the use of personal identifying information is a misdemeanor. Theft of identity to obtain money, credit, goods or services or anything of value less than $1.0 is also a misdemeanor. Theft of identity between $1.0 and $2.5 is a fourth degree felony; between $2.5 and $20.0 is a third degree felony; and over $20.0 is a second degree felony.

BOC/gm