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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20130&cosponId=13647
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House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: November 13, 2013 02:56 PM
From: Representative Ryan E. Mackenzie and Rep. Thomas R. Caltagirone
To: All House members
Subject: Municipality Theft
 
In the near future, we will introduce legislation to increase the grading of certain theft offenses to better deter theft from governmental entities and charitable organizations, and punish those who commit these thefts.

Two high-profile local thefts from municipal governments have brought a great deal of attention to this issue in our area. Once we looked into the topic further, we learned that these types of theft are prevalent across the Commonwealth and also harm charitable organizations, unions, and civic groups such as the Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, the VFW and the American Legion, and volunteer fire companies. To make matters worse, all too often, those who steal from governmental entities and charitable organizations receive probation or other light punishments.

Because of this our legislation will increase the grading for theft in the following ways:

(1) By making theft of $100,000 or more but less than $500,000 a felony of the second degree (maximum 10 years imprisonment)
(2) By making theft of $500,000 or more a felony of the first degree (maximum 20 imprisonment); and
(3) By providing an additional period of incarceration of up to five years if the theft is from a charity or a state or local governmental entity.

In practical terms, this means that if someone stole a great deal of money, at least $500,000 from a charitable organization or governmental entity, the maximum term of imprisonment under this legislation would be 25 years.

It is our hope that this legislation will deter theft from organizations entrusted with communal dollars, and punish those who prey on these groups.

Please find a list of articles relating to thefts from governmental entities and charitable organizations attached to read about how these crimes are affecting all parts of the state.

If you would like to see a copy of the language, please feel free to contact Rep. Mackenzie's office at
787-1000.



View Attachment


Introduced as HB1863