SB16 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Roger Bedford, Jr.
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Identity theft, crime of, definition to include gaining employment through use of another person's identity, penalties increased, Sec. 13A-8-192 am'd.
Summary: SB16 would make identity theft a Class B felony and expand the definition to include using someone’s identity to obtain employment, with a seven-year statute of limitations and a set effective date.
What This Bill Does
It changes identity theft from a lesser offense to a Class B felony. It expands the behavior that counts as identity theft to include obtaining employment using another person’s identifying information, as well as other forms like accessing resources, goods, or documents with that information. It sets a seven-year deadline to start prosecutions and includes an age-misrepresentation exception for minors; it also notes the bill does not require new local funds because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one, and it specifies when the law becomes effective.

Who It Affects
Offenders who commit identity theft would be charged as Class B felons under the amended law.
Victims or holders of identifying information would have stronger protections and a longer potential window for prosecution of offenses involving their identity.

Key Provisions
Amends §13A-8-192 to define identity theft as (a) obtaining, recording, or accessing identifying information to access resources, identify documents, or obtain benefits; (b) obtaining goods or services using the victim’s identifying information; (c) obtaining identification documents in the victim's name; (d) obtaining employment through the victim’s identifying information.
Identity theft is a Class B felony.
Prosecution must be commenced within seven years after the offense was committed.
An exception states the provision does not apply when obtaining the identity of another to misrepresent age solely to obtain alcohol, tobacco, or privileges denied to minors.
The act is exempt from the Amendment 621 local-funds requirement because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Crimes and Offenses