BILLS THAT PASSED, OR FAILED, AT THE LEGISLATURE
Crime

Advertiser Staff

Traffic camera repeal
(SB 2077 SD1)
Repeals the law that established the traffic camera enforcement pilot program.

HIV testing
(HB 1901 HD2 SD1 CD1)
Allows courts to order HIV testing of those charged with sexual assault or incest and require those convicted of those offenses to be tested for HIV.

Drug treatment
(SB 1188 SD2 HD2 CD1)
Requires courts to sentence first-time, non-violent drug offenders involving possession or use to probation with drug treatment.

Good time credit
(SB 859 SD1 HD2 CD1)
Allows inmates to earn reductions in their minimum prison terms by making progress in several areas: work and vocational training, social adjustment, counseling, self-help, therapeutic, educational, and literacy programs.

Racing penalties
(SB 2337 SD2 HD2 CD1)
Sets a penalty of up to $2,000 or up to a year in prison, or both for drivers who exceed the speed limit by at least 30 mph. Those caught on a second offense would face a license suspension for a year, and those caught racing for a third time would face a license suspension for three years and confiscation of the car involved.

Court appearances
(SB 2632)
Makes knowingly failing to appear in court to answer to a citation punishable by a fine of $1,000 or 30 days imprisonment or both. The current penalty is a $100 fine.

Sex offender registration
(SB 2698 SD2 HD1 CD1)
Revives the sex offender registration program by establishing a process where the state must make a case to a judge that the sex offender's information should be released, and sex offenders can argue they should not be forced to register.

Desecration
(HB 2387 HD1 SD1)
Increases the maximum fine for desecration of a grave, public monument or place of worship from $2,000 to $10,000. Leaves the potential prison sentence unchanged at a maximum of one year.

Driving curfews
Would have prohibited minors from driving between midnight and 4 a.m. unless they are accompanied by an adult at least 18 years old.

Animal cruelty
Would have increased the penalty for cruelty to animals from up to one year in jail to up to five years in jail.

Terrorism offenses
Would have created the new offense under state law of terrorism, which would be punishable by a sentence of up to 20 years in prison.

Domestic violence
Would have allowed judges to impose extended prison terms in cases where victims of domestic violence suffer serious bodily injury or substantial bodily injury.

No bail
Allows courts to refuse to release suspects in domestic violence cases on bail while the suspects are appealing a conviction.

Stalking
Would allow courts to impose up to five years probation for a person convicted of stalking and require the suspect to undergo counseling at the suspect's expense.

Drunken driving
Would change the administrative revocation process for people accused of drunken driving to prohibit a person who refuses to take a test for intoxication from receiving a conditional driving permit while that person's case is processed.

Victims' rights
Would require the state Director of Health to notify victims of the status of people who have been acquitted of crimes by reason of insanity. The department would have to notify families if the patient escapes or applies for discharge.

Purse snatching
Would reclassify theft of a purse as first-degree robbery, which is punishable up to 20 years in prison.