| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yes | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Positive | Neutral |
HB 1530 would decrease the penalties for crimes that have a minimal amount of pecuniary damages. To be charged with a Class B misdemeanor or higher under this legislation a person would have to cause more significant pecuniary damages. This would also remove the criminal penalty for writing a bad check if the item obtained cost less than $20. However, this bill would create additional more severe felonies for fraudulent transfer of a motor vehicle.
This bill is identical to SB 393
HB 1530 would reduce the financial liability of the state by decreasing the penalties for petty theft in a way that mirrors inflation. The decrease in penalties would allow the state to not confine people in jail for petty crimes and rather subject them to a financial penalty. This bill would also create additional more severe felonies for fraudulent transfer of motor vehicle, which would be similar to the other theft statutes currently in existence. This bill would also remove the offense of writing bad personal checks from the criminal code if the check was written for an item that cost less than $20. This would allow this financial matter to be handled during civil trials or through other debt collecting procedures.