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House Bill 2482 |
House Author: Pena et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Williams |
House Bill 2482 amends the Penal Code to expand the circumstances under which certain theft offenses and organized retail theft offenses are increased to the next higher category of offense for punishment purposes to include activating a fire exit alarm, deactivating or otherwise preventing a fire alarm or retail theft detector from sounding, or using a certain instrument to prevent or attempt to prevent detection of the offense by a retail theft detector, during the commission of the offense. The bill changes the values of merchandise involved in an organized retail theft offense that render the category of offense, ranging from a state jail felony to a first degree felony, and creates the Class B and Class A misdemeanors for organized retail theft.