HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1326

TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 2015

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE PENAL CODE.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The purpose of this Act is to update the monetary threshold for felony theft as recommended by The Council of State Governments Justice Center in 2012.  The current threshold for felony theft is one of the lowest in the nation and has not been adjusted for thirty years.  This amount will prevent lower level offenders from receiving felony charges.

     SECTION 2.  Section 708-831, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by amending subsection (1) to read as follows:

     "§708-831  Theft in the second degree.  (1)  A person commits the offense of theft in the second degree if the person commits theft:

     (a)  Of property from the person of another;

     (b)  Of property or services the value of which exceeds [$300;] $600;

     (c)  Of an aquacultural product or part thereof from premises that are fenced or enclosed in a manner designed to exclude intruders or there is prominently displayed on the premises a sign or signs sufficient to give notice and reading as follows:  "Private Property", "No Trespassing", or a substantially similar message;

     (d)  Of agricultural equipment, supplies, or products, or part thereof, the value of which exceeds $100 but does not exceed $20,000, or of agricultural products that exceed twenty-five pounds, from premises that are fenced, enclosed, or secured in a manner designed to exclude intruders or there is prominently displayed on the premises a sign or signs sufficient to give notice and reading as follows:  "Private Property", "No Trespassing", or a substantially similar message; or if at the point of entry of the premise, a crop is visible.  The sign or signs, containing letters not less than two inches in height, shall be placed along the boundary line of the land in a manner and in such position as to be clearly noticeable from outside the boundary line.  Possession of agricultural products without ownership and movement certificates, when a certificate is required pursuant to chapter 145, is prima facie evidence that the products are or have been stolen; or

     (e)  Of agricultural commodities that are generally known to be marketed for commercial purposes.  Possession of agricultural commodities without ownership and movement certificates, when a certificate is required pursuant to section 145-22, is prima facie evidence that the products are or have been stolen; provided that "agriculture commodities" has the same meaning as in section 145-21."

     SECTION 3.  This Act does not affect rights and duties that matured, penalties that were incurred, and proceedings that were begun before its effective date.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect on January 1, 2016.


 


 

Report Title:

Theft in the Second Degree

 

Description:

Increases the monetary threshold to $600 with respect to property or services for theft in the second degree.  Effective 01/01/2016.  (SD1)

 

 

 

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