OLYMPIA – Since 1924, the fine corporations can receive for committing crimes has been capped at $10,000. Under a new bill proposed by Representative Mike Pellicciotti (D—Federal Way), Class A felonies could be as high as $1,000,000.
HB 1806 would increase fines for corporations convicted of lower level crimes as well, including:
- Up to $750,000 for a Class C felony;
- Up to $250,000 for a gross misdemeanor; and
- Up to $50,000 for a misdemeanor.
“As a prosecutor, I have seen corporate officers commit fraud and corporations walk away with a slap on the wrist. That’s wrong and it’s time for the laws to catch up to the times,” said Pellicciotti. “This is an important first step in holding bad actors accountable to the public.”
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