House Bill 518 Summary

• Revises definitions in scrap metal business regulations to clarify that scrap metal businesses purchase, receive and process nonferrous metal property, stainless steel, and commercial metal property.

• Requires scrap metal businesses to maintain transaction records for five (5) years including seller identification, vehicle information, photographs or video, and a signed declaration that property is not stolen.

• Establishes that scrap metal businesses must hold suspected stolen property intact for up to ten (10) business days upon law enforcement notification, down from the previous period.

• Requires scrap metal businesses to provide transaction records to law enforcement upon request within five (5) business days through electronic transmission, facsimile, or in-person review.

• Makes it a misdemeanor to deliberately remove identifying marks, make false records, engage in multiple small transactions to avoid requirements, or knowingly possess unlawfully purchased commercial metal property; increases penalties to felony for repeat offenders and those stealing from electrical substations or utility infrastructure.