Protections Regarding Seizures of Identification Documents

With certain exceptions, the bill prohibits an employer or an employer's agent from demanding, confiscating, retaining, or otherwise requiring an individual to surrender the individual's government-issued identification card.

The bill states that an individual commits criminal confiscation of a government-issued identification card if the individual knowingly takes into possession or control, or attempts to take into possession or control, another individual's government-issued identification card without lawful authority. Criminal confiscation of a government-issued identification card is a class 2 misdemeanor.

An individual commits a bias-motivated crime if, with the intent to intimidate or harass another individual, in whole or in part, because of that individual's actual or perceived race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, or transgender identity, the individual:

• Violates the bill's prohibitions; or
• Provides, or threatens to provide, an individual's government-issued identification or personal documents to federal immigration authorities.

Such a bias-motivated crime is a class 1 misdemeanor, and a victim may seek additional remedies available under law.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)