Attorney General Ford’s Landmark Public Safety Bill Package Signed Into Law


Bills Sponsored by Attorney General Will Strengthen Law Enforcement and Protections for Victims of Domestic Violence
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    June 4, 2019

    Carson City, NV – Today, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford commended the signing of multiple bills that combat fraud and domestic violence. Assembly Bill (AB) 15 updates Nevada’s anti-money laundering statute. It also criminalizes creating false court documents for the purpose of defrauding or harassing someone. AB41 and AB60 address many facets of preventing and prosecuting domestic violence. Each bill passed through the Legislature with strong, bipartisan support.

      “I vowed to be an Attorney General who puts Nevada families first, which is why my office is committed to preventing violence, prosecuting those who harm others and supporting survivors,” said Attorney General Aaron Ford. “My office’s bills protect Nevada families, businesses and law enforcement officers. I extend my gratitude to the advocates and law enforcement officers who dedicate themselves to protecting the public and supported these pieces of legislation to help heal our state.”

        AB15, sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, creates a new penalty for creating documents that appear to come from a Nevada court in order to harass or defraud someone. This tactic has recently been employed by so-called “sovereign citizens,” who represent the largest domestic terrorist threat to Nevada. Sovereign citizens purport to not recognize the government of Nevada or the United States. Some have issued fake arrest warrants to law enforcement officers simply because the officer represents the State of Nevada. Others have served fake court documents to Nevadans, especially seniors, ordering that person to pay a fine or another amount as part of a scam.

          AB15 also updates Nevada’s anti-money laundering statute to encompass modern methods of money laundering, including using other valuable property such as virtual currency. It also increases penalties for money laundering.

            AB41 and AB60 address domestic violence. Every 17 minutes and 20 seconds, an act of domestic violence is reported to law enforcement in Nevada. Over 30,000 domestic violence offenses were reported in 2017, a rate that has increased every single year for at least the past five years. Nevada has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation, and consistently leads the nation for domestic violence fatalities.

              AB41 strengthens the Confidential Address Program. This program protects survivors of domestic violence, trafficking and sexual assault from being located by the perpetrator through public records. This bill expands the use of the Confidential Address Program to utility and telecommunications providers. It received support from Nevada businesses, such as NV Energy, Southwest Gas, AT&T, and others.

                AB60 increases penalties on domestic violence crimes, including repeated domestic battery, battery against pregnant victims and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm. It also updates Nevada’s anti-stalking law and increases penalties on stalking generally and stalking minor children.

                  For more information on AB15, AB41 and AB60, visit leg.state.nv.us.

                  ###