04/13/1993 04:00 PM House RLS

  HB 79 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY BY MINORS                                           
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ULMER asked why the particular amount of                      
  $10,000 was selected.                                                        
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE, PRIME SPONSOR OF HB 79, advised                        
  members that the $10,000 was a compromise amount.  The                       
  original bill was written to allow whatever district court                   
  currently allows;  that amount, however, turns out to be                     
  $50,000.  Many people were concerned that $50,000 was too                    
  much and that $2,000 was not enough to go to court.  An                      
  alternative of $5,000 was offered, but malicious damage                      
  usually totals more than $5,000.  He said $10,000 was an                     
  even compromise between victim's rights and parental                         
  responsibility.                                                              
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE ULMER asked if there was any discussion of                    
  not having a cap on the dollar figure - perhaps a recovery                   
  of the actual amount of the damages.                                         
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE replied that no dollar figure was his                   
  original intent.  There has been considerable concern that                   
  $50,000 is too high and if someone has an uncontrollable                     
  child who is still a minor who wanted to victimize their                     
  parents, they could do considerable damage and create                        
  another victim.                                                              
                                                                               
  (Rep. G. Phillips arrived at 4:09 p.m.)                                      
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BUNDE continued.  He said the amount was                      
  $50,000 when the bill went to the Finance Committee and they                 
  reduced it to $5,000.  A compromise would be to raise it to                  
  $10,000.                                                                     
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BARNES moved to adopt the committee                           
  substitute (CS) for HB 79.  CSHB 79(RLS) was ADOPTED.                        
                                                                               
  REPRESENTATIVE BARNES moved to pass  CSHB 79(RLS) from                       
  committee with individual recommendations.                                   
                                                                               
  CSHB 79(RLS) was MOVED with INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS.