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Public Safety - New Laws 2012        or Return to 2012 New Laws

Notification loophole closed
Notification loopholes regarding release of Level III sex offenders closed.

HF2394/SF1994/CH123 (view full story)

Selling forfeited firearms to dealers
Law enforcement agencies will have another way to dispose of contraband.

SF1371/HF1468/CH127 (view full story)

Forfeiture changes signed into law
A number of changes to the state’s forfeiture provisions that were proposed by a working group have become law.

SF1240/HF1535/CH128 (view full story)

Notifying an abuse victim’s parents
A new law will add to the custody order in a divorce agreement so that each party must “notify the other party if the minor child is the victim of an alleged crime.

SF2297/HF1899/CH153 (view full story)

Inmate gardening program
The Corrections Department is to establish an inmate gardening program at each correctional facility where space and security allows.

SF2084/HF2415/CH155 (view full story)

Civilian review authority changes
An exemption the Civilian Review Authority in the state’s largest city has had since 1991 will be no more.

SF1981/HF2409/CH156 (view full story)

County attorneys can carry guns
State statute previously prohibited local government employees, other than licensed peace officers, from carrying firearms on duty. That will now change.

HF1829/SF1648/CH171 (view full story)

Going after gas drive-offs
With gas prices increasing, so does the number of people filling up and fleeing.

HF2333/SF1870/CH173 (view full story)

Harsher vulnerable adult penalties
People who intentionally neglect a vulnerable adult over an extended period of time or knowing substantial harm could likely result will face a more serious criminal charge. So will those who mistreat a child.

SF1586/HF1945/CH175 (view full story)

Firefighters memorial day change
A new law designates the last Sunday in September as the new Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

SF1492/HF2365/CH188 (view full story)

Seeking to demonstrate firearm silencers
Federally licensed firearms dealers, manufacturers or importers will be permitted to possess silencers for the purpose of selling them or firearms tested with silencers for authorized activities.

HF1816/SF2125/CH194 (view full story)

Gang activity definition expands
A new law expands the list of offenses that constitute gang activity to include unlawful possession of a firearm by a minor.

SF1123/HF1245/CH200 (view full story)

Filing a false lien penalty
The number of people for which it is a five-year felony to file a false lien against will expand to include sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and county recorders.

HF2373/SF1874/CH210 (view full story)

Fingerprint taking of an arrestee
Law enforcement will be permitted to take fingerprints from offenders for any offense if they are needed to resolve a file that is in suspense.

HF2160/SF2108/CH211 (view full story)

Responsibility clarification in cases
Clarification of responsibilities for providing public defense and appointed counsel when it comes to criminal and juvenile court is part of a new law.

SF1678/HF2059/CH212 (view full story)

Restraining order charge locale
Effective Aug. 1, 2012, a person who commits a violation in two or more counties can be prosecuted in either jurisdiction for all of the acts.

HF0738/SF1000/CH218 (view full story)

Felony DWI technical fix
A legislative oversight from five years ago has been corrected.

HF2246/SF1825/CH222 (view full story)

Restraining order jurisdiction
Changes to the state’s harassment restraining order are designed to clear up state statute and remove an administrative barrier for victims.

HF0469/SF0574/CH223 (view full story)

Genital mutilation enhanced penalty
Within the state’s domestic violence statutes is a list of offenses that qualify a person for an enhanced offense, potentially leading to a harsher sentence.

HF2149/SF1657/CH227 (view full story)

Sex offender grid calculation fix
Requested by the Sentencing Guidelines Commission and supported by the judicial branch, a new law ensures courts do not sentence someone beyond the presumptive range and potentially avoid lawsuits.

SF2464/HF2896/CH229 (view full story)

Fighting synthetic drug sale, use
The goal of a new law is to help keep synthetic drugs — also called designer drugs — out of storefronts and off the streets by making them more difficult to sell.

HF2508/SF2319/CH240 (view full story)

Electronic prescriptions permitted
Doctors will be allowed to issue prescriptions electronically in instances where current law requires prescribing through a written or oral method.

HF2532/SF2128/CH246 (view full story)

Capitol area security
State Patrol officers can now be assigned to protect state lawmakers and other high-ranking state officials, if they’re believed to be in danger.

HF1607/SF1283/CH258 (view full story)

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