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IN HB1303

Bill

Status

Introduced

1/14/2019

Primary Sponsor

Robin Shackleford

Click for details

Origin

House of Representatives

2019 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Reclassifies theft, conversion, forgery, check deception, check fraud, possession of cocaine, and possession of methamphetamine from felonies to Class A misdemeanors, with elevation to Level 6 felony only if the offender has a prior conviction for a violent crime

  • Reclassifies possession of controlled substances, marijuana, and synthetic drugs to Level 6 felony only when the offender has a prior violent crime conviction

  • Creates the Crime Reduction Fund administered by the state budget agency, funded by calculated savings from the reduced incarceration costs resulting from these reclassifications

  • Distributes Crime Reduction Fund savings as: 50% to dropout prevention programs, 40% to forensic diversion programs, and 10% to violent crime victims compensation

  • Allows persons sentenced between July 1, 2014 and July 1, 2019 for the affected offenses to petition the court for reduction of their felony conviction to a Class A misdemeanor, excluding credit restricted felons and those with prior violent crime convictions

Legislative Description

Criminal penalties and sentencing. Establishes the crime reduction fund to provide funds to: (1) the dropout prevention program fund; (2) the violent crime victims compensation fund; and (3) the forensic diversion program account. Makes the crimes of theft, conversion, forgery, check deception, check fraud, possession of cocaine, and possession of methamphetamine Class A misdemeanors in all cases, except each crime is a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for a crime of violence. Makes the crime of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of a synthetic drug a Level 6 felony if the person has a prior unrelated conviction for a crime of violence. Makes an appropriation.

Last Action

First reading: referred to Committee on Courts and Criminal Code

1/14/2019

Committee Referrals

Courts and Criminal Code1/14/2019

Full Bill Text

No bill text available