The bill amends Section 11-1-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-1, which pertains to the definitions of felony, misdemeanor, petty misdemeanor, and violation. Key changes include the redefinition of a felony as any criminal offense punishable by imprisonment for more than one year, while a misdemeanor is defined as an offense punishable by imprisonment for more than six months but not exceeding three hundred sixty-four days, or by a fine exceeding one thousand dollars. Additionally, a petty misdemeanor is now defined as an offense punishable by imprisonment not exceeding six months or solely by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, while a violation is defined as an offense punishable by a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that whenever the phrase "one year" appears in any legal provision regarding maximum imprisonment, it should be interpreted as three hundred sixty-four days. This act aims to provide clearer distinctions between various categories of criminal offenses and will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
5502: 11-1-2