ARK: Identity Fraud, Tax, Immigrant Bills Lead Session
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Feb 8, 2007
Identity Fraud, Tax, Immigrant Bills Lead Session
A bill to increase the penalty for identity fraud passed the Arkansas House. It includes crimes of a non-financial and financial nature.
In other words, if you steal someone's identity for money or not, you're now facing a stiffer penalty.
This bill spearheaded by Rep. Dawn Creekmore, D-Hensley, was part of Attorney General Dustin McDaniel’s overall legislative package.
House Bill 1309 now allows judges to offer restitution to the victims, because many times they incur costs associated with identity fraud. (See link below picture for bill.)
Creekmore says, “Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in the United States and we need to tackle it."
The House also passed a bill that would fine payday lenders who charge interest rates higher than 17 percent.
The bill would charge payday lenders $300 for every loan they make carrying an interest rate higher than 17 percent.
Also at the Capitol, a Senate committee advanced a bill that would ban state contractors and sub-contractors from employing illegal immigrants.
The Senate Committee on State Agencies and Governmental Affairs approved the bill by Rep. Rick Green, D-Van Buren.
Green says this bill ensures that contractors will employ someone of legal status. However, an opponent of the bill says it contradicts federal law.
ACLU spokeswoman Rita Sklar says, "The bill says if they entered illegally and they're not a citizen you can't hire them. And if they have the work visa, the contractor will say yeah but you entered illegally. So it contradicts federal law."
Green says, “I think federal law is clear as to what is considered legal work status and illegal work status. I don't think the people of the state want us to set around and mince words or try to rework words on that definition in order to address the problem."
Green says he can't wait to take this to the Senate floor.
Sklar says they are considering a legal challenge against the bill.
Also at the Capitol, a bill to cut the sales tax on groceries in half has advanced to the House floor.
The Senate unanimously passed the measure last week, which has the support of Gov. Mike Beebe.
House members are expected to vote on it Friday.
The House also approved a bill to remove the physical activity requirement for public school students in middle and high schools. Currently, that requirement is 90 minutes a week. The bill now goes to the Senate.
