Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Theft Law topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee amends theft bill to preserve misdemeanor status for low-value vehicle thefts
Summary
The Committee on Judiciary amended House Bill 2347 to retain misdemeanor treatment for theft of motor vehicles valued under $1,500 and advanced the bill favorably; the bill also clarifies culpability to include "reason to know."
The Committee on Judiciary voted to advance House Bill 23 47, as amended, favorably for passage after adopting an amendment that keeps theft of certain low-value motor vehicles as a misdemeanor. The bill as introduced would have altered the culpability standard and elevated theft of a motor vehicle valued under $1,500 to a severity level 10 nonperson felony.
Jason Thompson of the Reviser's Office summarized the bill for the committee: "House Bill 23 47 deals with the crime of theft. It has two parts: one, changing the culpability requirement ... to knowing or having reason to know; and two, increasing the penalty to a severity level 10 nonperson felony when the property that was the subject of the theft is a motor vehicle that is valued at less than $1,500."
Representative Carmichael offered an amendment, circulated with input from the Wichita City Attorney's Office, that removed the felony elevation and left the existing misdemeanor classification intact while preserving the proposed change to culpability ("reason to know"). Carmichael explained the city preferred preserving municipal authority to pursue misdemeanor ordinance violations and raised enforcement concerns if the conduct were moved exclusively to felony prosecution at the county level.
Representative Barrack and others said retaining misdemeanor status preserves municipal enforcement and recognized that increasing the level to a felony could shift investigative priorities and court resources. Representative Barrett expressed support for the culpability change, citing concerns from providers and organizations affected by regulatory change in other contexts.
The committee adopted the Carmichael amendment (moved by Representative Carmichael; seconded by Representative Osman) and then passed HB 23 47 as amended favorably for passage (motion moved by Representative Curtis; seconded by Representative Schreiber). The committee voice vote reported the ayes had it; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
