Marie Waldron, State Assemblymember — Since Proposition 47 was passed by voters in 2014, thousands of California’s small businesses have suffered from serial theft. Prop 47, advertised as “The Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act,” created a loophole by which an individual can steal up to $950 in merchandise from a business with little to no consequences.
My bill, AB 1597, would address this loophole by allowing prosecutors to charge those who repeatedly steal from California’s businesses with a felony instead of a misdemeanor, restoring penalties to pre-Prop 47 levels for repeat offenders. This week another bill I co-authored, Assembly Bill 1599, was heard by the Public Safety Committee. AB 1599 would have put a measure on the November 2022 ballot asking California voters to repeal Prop 47.
AB 1597 will be heard in the Assembly Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, March 15th, beginning at 9:00 AM. I encourage everyone to contact the members of the Committee to share your support for these common sense measures to restore safety in our communities!
Please add your voice to AB 1597’s bi-partisan group of supporters by writing the Public Safety Committee here or calling into the hearing on March 15th. Make sure to check the Committee’s website on Tuesday to watch and call into the hearing.
Together we can protect businesses from shoplifting and help create a safer California for all!
Sincerely,
Marie Waldron
Assemblymember, 75th District
Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron, R-Escondido, represents the 75th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Bonsall, Escondido, Fallbrook, Hidden Meadows, Pala, Palomar Mountain, Pauma Valley, Rainbow, San Marcos, Temecula, Valley Center and Vista.
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