Identity theft.

Existing law makes it a crime for a person, with the intent to defraud, to acquire or retain possession of the personal identifying information, as defined, of more than 10 persons. Existing law makes that crime punishable by a fine, by imprisonment in a county jail not to exceed one year, or by both a fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years. This bill would instead make that punishment applicable to a person who acquires or retains possession of the personal identifying information of more than 9 but not more than 50 persons. The bill would make it a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 16 months, or 2 or 3 years for a person who, with the intent to defraud, acquires or retains possession of the personal identifying information of more than 50 but not more than 100 other persons. The bill would make it a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 2, 3, or 5 years for a person who, with the intent to defraud, acquires or retains possession of the personal identifying information of more than 50 but not more than 100 other persons. The bill would make it a crime punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for 3, 5, or 7 years for a person who, with the intent to defraud, acquires or retains possession of the personal identifying information of more than 1,000 other persons. By creating new crimes, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.