Topeka –House Judiciary Committee Chair Lance Kinzer (R-Olathe) today introduced three bills which were drafted in conjunction with Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe to combat identity theft, home-improvement fraud and several other white-collar crimes.
“These bills help law-enforcement officers protect Kansans by giving them the tools necessary to capture and punish criminals who prey on victims using identity theft, home improvement crimes and other fraudulent acts,” said District Attorney Howe.
HB 2008 will increase the penalty for identity theft or fraud from a non-person crime to a person felony with a corresponding increase in possible punishment. HB 2009 establishes a non-person crime when contractors engage in fraud or theft in association with home improvement projects.
HB 2010 adds identity theft, mistreatment of a dependent adult, writing a worthless check, forgery and use of a false financial card to the forfeiture statute. This gives law enforcement and prosecutors the ability to seize property gained from these criminal acts.
“Identity theft is serious crime and must be treated as such,” said Representative Kinzer. “It wreaks havoc in the lives of victims costing them significant amounts of time and money. The penalty for identity theft should match the severity of the crime.”
