AB 691

Under current law, no one may, by virtue of his or her office, business, or

employment, intentionally use, transfer, conceal, or otherwise keep money or other

items of value without the owner's consent and with the intent to convert the money

or other items of value to his or her own use. Generally, penalties for committing this

offense increase with the value of the property misappropriated, so that the person

commits a Class A misdemeanor if the value of the property is less than or equals

$2,500, a Class I felony if the value of the property is more than $2,500 but not more

than $5,000, a Class H felony if the value of the property is more than $5,000 but not

more than $10,000, and a Class G felony if the value of the property exceeds $10,000.

This bill applies an enhanced penalty to a person who commits this offense if

he or she takes the property from a charitable organization and uses it for a partisan

political purpose. Under the bill, the person who commits that offense is guilty of a

Class I felony if the value of the property is less than or equals $2,500, a Class H

felony if the value of the property is more than $2,500 but not more than $5,000, a

Class G felony if the value of the property is more than $5,000 but not more than

$10,000, and a Class F felony if the value of the property exceeds $10,000.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report concerning the proposed penalty and the costs or savings that are likely to

result if the bill is enacted.