Maryland HB 1319: Criminal Law - Theft - Redeemable Credit Points

Bill Text

EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1319*

HOUSE BILL 1319
E1 5lr2012

By: Delegates Rose, Bouchat, Buckel, Griffith, Hornberger, Mangione, McComas,
Miller, Pippy, Reilly, Stonko, and Tomlinson
Introduced and read first time: February 7, 2025
Assigned to: Judiciary

A BILL ENTITLED

AN ACT concerning 1

Criminal Law – Theft – Redeemable Credit Points 2

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from knowingly or willfully obtaining or exerting 3
unauthorized control over certain points with the intent to deprive a certain owner 4
of the points; and generally relating to theft. 5

BY adding to 6
Article – Criminal Law 7
Section 7–111 8
Annotated Code of Maryland 9
(2021 Replacement Volume and 2024 Supplement) 10

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 11
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 12

Article – Criminal Law 13

7–111. 14

(A) (1) IN THIS SECTION THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 15
INDICATED. 16

(2) “OWNER” MEANS A PERSON WHO HAS A LAWFUL INTEREST IN OR 17
IS IN LAWFUL POSSESSION OF POINTS. 18

(3) (I) “POINTS” MEANS A TYPE OF CURRENCY EARNED BY A 19
CUSTOMER OF A BUSINESS BY COMPLETING REQUIREMENTS SET BY THE BUSINESS 20
THAT THE CUSTOMER MAY REDEEM FOR BENEFITS, GOODS, OR SERVICES. 21

2 HOUSE BILL 1319

(II) “POINTS” INCLUDES: 1

1. RETAIL CREDIT; 2

2. CREDIT CARD POINTS; 3

3. TRAVEL POINTS; AND 4

4. FREQUENT FLYER MILES. 5

(B) A PERSON MAY NOT KNOWINGLY OR WILLFULLY OBTAIN OR EXERT 6
UNAUTHORIZED CONTROL OVER POINTS WITH THE INTENT TO DEPRIVE THE OWNER 7
OF THE POINTS. 8

(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION IS GUILTY OF A FELONY AND 9
ON CONVICTION: 10

(1) IS SUBJECT TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 5 YEARS OR A 11
FINE NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 OR BOTH; AND 12

(2) SHALL PAY THE OWNER THE VALUE OF THE POINTS. 13

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect 14
October 1, 2025. 15