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<ns0:Id>20250AB__233799INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:MeasureNum>2337</ns0:MeasureNum>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Lackey</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Lackey</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Sections 487 and 490.2 of the Penal Code, relating to theft. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>theft</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Theft.</ns0:Subject>
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Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted as an initiative statute by Proposition 47, as approved by the electors at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, makes the theft of money, labor, or property petty theft punishable as a misdemeanor, whenever the value of the property taken does not exceed $950. Existing law defines theft of a value exceeding that amount as grand theft, and defines theft of a firearm as grand theft regardless of the value of the property taken. Existing law authorizes the Legislature to amend the provisions of the act by a
<ns0:Fraction>
<ns0:Numerator>2</ns0:Numerator>
<ns0:Denominator>3</ns0:Denominator>
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vote of each house of the Legislature if it is consistent with, and furthers the purpose of, the act.
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<html:p>This bill would make theft of property taken without lawful
authority by a public officer under color of authority grand theft regardless of the value of the property taken. By increasing the punishment of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.</html:p>
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<ns0:DigestKey>
<ns0:VoteRequired>TWO_THIRDS</ns0:VoteRequired>
<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
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<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 487 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>487.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>Grand theft is theft committed in any of the following cases:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
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When the money, labor, real property, or personal property taken is of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), except as provided in subdivision (b).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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Notwithstanding subdivision (a), grand theft is committed in any of the following cases:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
When domestic fowls, avocados, olives, citrus or deciduous fruits, other fruits, vegetables, nuts, artichokes, or other farm crops are taken of a value exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
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<html:p>
(B)
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For the purposes of establishing that the value of
domestic fowls, avocados, olives, citrus or deciduous fruits, other fruits, vegetables, nuts, artichokes, or other farm crops under this paragraph exceeds two hundred fifty dollars ($250), that value may be shown by the presentation of credible evidence which establishes that on the day of the theft domestic fowls, avocados, olives, citrus or deciduous fruits, other fruits, vegetables, nuts, artichokes, or other farm crops of the same variety and weight exceeded two hundred fifty dollars ($250) in wholesale value.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
When fish, shellfish, mollusks, crustaceans, kelp, algae, or other aquacultural products are taken from a commercial or research operation which is producing that product, of a value exceeding two hundred fifty dollars ($250).
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Where the money, labor, real property, or personal property is taken by a servant, agent, or employee from their principal or employer and
aggregates nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) or more in any 12 consecutive month period.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
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When the property is taken without lawful authority by a public officer under color of authority.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
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When the property is taken from the person of another.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
When the property taken is any of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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An automobile.
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<html:p>
(2)
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A firearm.
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<html:p>
(e)
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If the value of the money, labor, real property, or personal property taken exceeds nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) over the course of distinct but related acts, including acts
committed against multiple victims or in counties other than the county of the current offense, the value of the money, labor, real property, or personal property taken may properly be aggregated to charge a count of grand theft, if the acts are motivated by one intention, one general impulse, and one plan. Evidence that distinct acts are motivated by one intention, one general impulse, and one plan may include, but is not limited to, evidence that the acts involve the same defendant or defendants, are substantially similar in nature, or occur within a 90-day period.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 490.2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_CF0324A0-A9A7-4CE8-8F1D-9511ACB8BB6E">
<ns0:Num>490.2.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:Content>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Notwithstanding Section 487 or any other provision of law defining grand theft, obtaining any property by theft where the value of the money, labor, real or personal property taken does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) shall be considered petty theft and shall be punished as a misdemeanor, except that such person may instead be punished pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 if that person has one or more prior convictions for an offense specified in clause (iv) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 667 or for an offense requiring registration pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 290.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
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This section shall not be applicable to any theft that may be charged as an infraction pursuant to any other provision of
law.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall not apply to any of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Theft of a firearm.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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When the property is taken without lawful authority by a public officer under color of authority.
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII
<html:span class="ThinSpace"/>
B of the California Constitution.
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