Relating to trespass, and providing penalties

The bill provides that a law enforcement agency shall not accept a report of unlawful squatting unless the report is made by an owner of the premises upon which the unlawful squatting occurred, or by an authorized representative of the owner of the premises upon which the unlawful squatting occurred. A law enforcement officer acting in good faith in response to a report of a violation of this section is immune from criminal and civil liability. The bill provides that unlawful squatting is a serious misdemeanor. A second offense of unlawful squatting is an aggravated misdemeanor. A third offense of unlawful squatting is a class “D” felony. A person who provides a false document as justification for the person’s presence on the premises commits a class “D” felony. A serious misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than one year and a fine of at least $430 but not more than $2,560. An aggravated misdemeanor is punishable by confinement for no more than two years and a fine of at least $855 but not more than $8,540. A class “D” felony is punishable by confinement for no more than five years and a fine of at least $1,025 but not more than $10,245. The bill provides a private cause of action for a person aggrieved by a violation of the bill and the person is entitled to recover damages, including without limitation restitution, and reasonable attorney fees. The bill provides definitions of “immediate family member”, “premises”, and “unlawful squatting”.