Bill tightening penalties for schemes to defraud elderly or disabled people passes committee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A bill that would reclassify penalties for committing schemes to defraud against a person 65 years of age or older or against a disabled person passed its second Senate committee Tuesday.
Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, sponsored SB 1220, which passed favorably through the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice Tuesday.
The Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Kevin Steele, R-Hudson, sponsored similar legislation in the House, HB 1771, which passed through two committees so far.
According to Martin, the bill would reclassify the penalty for people whose intent is to commit specific schemes of illegally obtaining money or property from a victim through deception:
- A misdemeanor of the first degree would be reclassified to a felony of the third degree.
- A felony of the third degree would be reclassified to a felony of the second degree.
- A felony of the second degree would be reclassified to a felony of the first degree.
- A felony of the first degree would be reclassified to a life felony.
It would apply to those whose victims are 65 years of age or older and anyone with mental or physical disabilities.
According to the bill, a person whose image or likeness is used without his or her consent in a scheme to defraud may file a civil action to recover damages caused by the use of their image.
If passed through both legislative chambers and signed by the governor, the bill would have an effective date of Oct. 1.
