4/19/04-The House Appropriations Committee April 6 scuttled a proposal that would have toughened criminal penalties for identity theft. The panel blamed a lack of state funds to send more criminals to prison.
Authorities now use criminal impersonation, theft or forgery laws to prosecute criminals who steal identities.
Under HB1122, identity theft would have been punishable as a Class-4 felony carrying a punishment of two to six years in prison. It also made it easier for victims to clear their credit histories.
The state estimated the measure’s price tag, however, at more than $10 million over the next five years.

3/9/04-The House Appropriations Committee is reviewing a bill that would make identity theft a crime and help victims put their credit back together.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Bill Crane, R-Arvada, would allow victims to report such crimes to police and require that officials forward the report to law enforcement in the jurisdiction where the crime took place.
The proposal would also allow an identity theft victim to go before a judge and ask the judge to declare the victim factually innocent.
HB1122 would make the crime a Class 4 felony carrying a punishment of two to six years in prison and two years of mandatory parole.
If the crime were committed after a prior conviction for crimes such as fraud or forgery, identity theft would be a Class 3 felony punishable by four to 12 years in prison and three years of mandatory parole.
For bill status, call (303) 866-3055. In Colorado, call 1-800-811-7647.