SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5599

As of February 11, 2003

Title: An act relating to theft of solid waste or recyclable materials.

Brief Description: Prohibiting theft of solid waste or recyclable materials.

Sponsors: Senators Schmidt, Kohl-Welles, Horn, Finkbeiner, Esser, Reardon, Rossi, Stevens and Winsley.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Natural Resources, Energy & Water: 2/12/03.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & WATER

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: Under existing state law regarding identity crimes, it is a felony to obtain financial information by knowingly using deceptive practices. It is also a felony knowingly to obtain means of identification or financial information of another person with the intent to commit a crime and to use it to wrongfully obtain anything of value. Under existing law regarding theft, a specified value of stolen property is a necessary threshold to establish the crime. Under existing law, it is not a crime to take trash or recyclables that might contain financial information or means of identification.

Summary of Bill: Theft of solid waste or recyclable material that includes financial information or means of identification and whose value does not meet the threshold for first, second, or third degree theft is a misdemeanor. A person is guilty of theft of solid waste or recyclable material, if the person wrongfully obtains it from or near a container that is part of a municipal collection program without the consent of the collector, the generator, or the owner or operator of the container.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.