REPORT ON BILLS FAVORABLY REPORTED BY COMMITTEE

TITLE OF BILL:

AN ACT CONCERNING ILLEGAL ACCESS DEVICES.

SPONSORS OF BILL:

REASONS FOR BILL:

The bill codifies the recommendation of the Governor's Identity Theft Advisory Board to make illegal the possession or fabrication of access devices used to commit identity theft.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Department of Public Safety, Office of the Commissioner, State of CT., Leonard C. Boyle, Commissioner. Current law does not criminalize the possession of access devices, document making equipment, and authentication implements for the purpose of obtaining , tampering with or using the personal identifying information of another person. HB 5484 gives law enforcement a needed tool to assist in the apprehension and prosecution of criminals engaged in identity theft.

Criminal Investigations Division of the Madison Police Department, James Daniels, Detective. Access devices, capable of storing over 2000 numbers, are used legally by stores, restaurants, and gas stations. There are, however, many cases of identity theft occurring with these access and skimming devices and interception of them usually leads to an organized group of individuals. Under current law, individuals apprehended with access devices cannot be prosecuted. CT needs a new statute that deals specifically with the illegal possession of an access device so that law enforcement can prosecute the offenders and stop the identity theft before it occurs.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

None expressed.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None expressed.