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<ns0:Id>20250SB__126698AMD</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-19</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_SENATE</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-03-25</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Senator Stern</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Legislator>
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<ns0:House>SENATE</ns0:House>
<ns0:Name>Stern</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to amend Sections 487j and 496 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.</ns0:Title>
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<ns0:Subject>Crimes: theft.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Under existing law, it is grand theft to steal, take, or carry away copper materials of another valued at more than $950.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require, for the purposes of this provision, value to be calculated as the full cost to the victim to repair and replace the stolen materials, including labor and equipment, rather than the fair market scrap value. The bill would also authorize the value of thefts committed against critical infrastructure within a 90-day period to be aggregated to meet the $950 threshold. Because this bill would expand the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
<html:p>
Existing law, the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act, enacted by Proposition 47, as approved by the voters
at the November 4, 2014, statewide general election, requires the receipt of stolen property that does not exceed $950 to be punished as a misdemeanor, except in cases when the defendant has previously been convicted of one or more specified serious or violent felonies or an offense requiring registration as a sex offender. Proposition 47 authorizes amendment of its provisions by a
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vote of the Members of each house of the Legislature so long as the amendments are consistent with and further the intent of the act.
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<html:p>This bill would amend Proposition 47 and require, for the purposes of this provision, value to be calculated as the full cost to the victim to repair and replace the stolen materials, including labor and equipment, rather than the fair market scrap value. Because this bill would expand the scope 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: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:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
<ns0:BillSection id="id_1091D748-2FCE-43E9-8AF2-8BEDA1AFF49C">
<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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Section 487j of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:Num>487j.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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Every person who steals, takes, or carries away copper materials of another, including, but not limited to, copper wire, copper cable, copper tubing, and copper piping, which are of a value exceeding nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) is guilty of grand theft. Grand theft of copper shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500), by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 and a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
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<html:p>
(b)
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For purposes of this section, ”value” shall be calculated as the full cost to the victim to repair and replace the stolen materials, including labor and equipment, rather than the fair market scrap value.
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<html:p>
(c)
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The value of thefts committed against critical infrastructure within a 90-day period may be aggregated to meet the threshold specified in subdivision (a).
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Section 496 of the
<ns0:DocName>Penal Code</ns0:DocName>
is amended to read:
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_5489D6B1-F20F-4D3C-A71C-2567855DAC38">
<ns0:Num>496.</ns0:Num>
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(a)
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Every person who buys or receives any property that has been stolen or that has been obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion, knowing the property to be so stolen or obtained, or who conceals, sells, withholds, or aids in concealing, selling, or withholding any property from the owner, knowing the property to be so stolen or obtained, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170. However, if the value of the property does not exceed nine hundred fifty dollars ($950), the offense shall be a misdemeanor, punishable only by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, if such person has no 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>A principal in the actual theft of the property may be convicted pursuant to this section. However, no person may be convicted both pursuant to this section and of the theft of the same property.</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Every swap meet vendor, as defined in Section 21661 of the Business and Professions Code, and every person whose principal business is dealing in, or collecting, merchandise or personal property, and every agent, employee, or representative of that person, who buys or receives any property of a value in excess of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) that has been stolen or obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion, under circumstances that should cause the person, agent, employee, or representative to make reasonable inquiry to ascertain that the person from whom the property was bought or received
had the legal right to sell or deliver it, without making a reasonable inquiry, shall be punished by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
</html:p>
<html:p>Every swap meet vendor, as defined in Section 21661 of the Business and Professions Code, and every person whose principal business is dealing in, or collecting, merchandise or personal property, and every agent, employee, or representative of that person, who buys or receives any property of a value of nine hundred fifty dollars ($950) or less that has been stolen or obtained in any manner constituting theft or extortion, under circumstances that should cause the person, agent, employee, or representative to make reasonable inquiry to ascertain that the person from whom the property was bought or received had the legal right to sell or deliver it, without making a reasonable inquiry, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Any person who has been injured by a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) may bring an action for three times the amount of actual damages, if any, sustained by the plaintiff, costs of suit, and reasonable attorney’s fees.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
For purposes of this section, ”value” shall be calculated as the full cost to the victim to repair and replace the stolen materials, including labor and equipment, rather than the fair market scrap value.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
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Notwithstanding Section 664, any attempt to commit any act prohibited by this section, except an offense specified in the accusatory pleading as a misdemeanor, is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
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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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