The bill amends the Identity Theft Protection Act by revising Section 9, which addresses penalties for violations related to identity theft. It establishes that a person who violates specific sections is guilty of a felony, with the court mandated to impose a sentence of life imprisonment or a term of years not less than 10 years. The previous provisions detailing varying penalties for first, second, and subsequent violations have been removed. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the court may order consecutive sentences for other violations committed using information obtained unlawfully.

Furthermore, the bill specifies that the provisions do not apply to violations of statutes or rules administered by regulatory bodies, provided the individual is subject to those regulations. It also allows for a defense in civil or criminal actions if a person can prove they lawfully obtained personal identifying information for the purpose of preventing identity theft or other crimes. The amendments are set to take effect 90 days after the bill is enacted into law.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 445.69