Gov. Nixon signs seven bills, including legislation to combat identity theft and protect victims of domestic violence

Gov. Jay Nixon Monday signed seven bills, including Senate Bill 624 to help combat identity theft by criminalizing the knowing possession of fraudulently obtained credit or debit devices.  Current law does not allow charges to be brought against individuals who possess stolen credit information unless there is evidence that the information has been used.

“Identity theft is a real and growing problem, and that’s why I’m pleased the General Assembly came together in a bipartisan way to strengthen our laws in this area,” Gov. Nixon said.  “By criminalizing the possession of stolen credit card information, this bill will provide law enforcement with another tool to hold hackers and identity thieves accountable.”

The bill also clarifies that stealing against a financial institution is a class B felony regardless of whether force is used.

Gov. Nixon also today signed Senate Bill 838 to help victims of domestic violence by allowing them to retain their cell phone numbers and services separate from the wireless accounts of their abusers.  Under the legislation, full orders of protection will permit wireless service providers to transfer the victim’s cell phone service to a new account where they can retain their wireless services and associated telephone numbers.

The Governor also signed:

·         House Bill 1443 allowing LAGERS (Missouri Local Government Employees Retirement System) member political subdivisions to move prior non-LAGERS retirement plans into the LAGERS retirement system.  HB 1443 addresses problems identified by the Governor in a previously vetoed version of the bill.

·         House Bill 1530, which brings Missouri into compliance with federal laws requiring the collection of certain unemployment debt through the Treasury Offset Program and requiring that 15 percent of any assessed penalty be paid into the Unemployment Compensation Fund, a benefit fund;

·         House Bill 1593 to exempt county collectors from the 10 penalty for untimely distribution of taxes collected if the taxes are subject to a taxpayer protest or disputed assessment; 

·         House Bill 1721 modifying the manner and frequency in which a supervisory committee of a credit union verifies its member accounts so it conforms to the manner and frequency proscribed in federal law; and 

·         Senate Bill 660, which changes the amount that banking corporations or associations bidding to become the depositaries of the funds of a county are required to submit to not less than $2,500.