Bill > AB89

This bill creates new provisions within Wisconsin statutes to address theft crimes and their penalties. Specifically, it allows for the aggregation of the value of property from multiple theft violations committed by the same person within the same prosecutorial unit during a continuous course of conduct, meaning several smaller thefts can be combined to determine the overall severity of the crime and its corresponding penalty. This aggregation applies to both general theft charges under section 943.20 and retail theft charges under section 943.50. Furthermore, the bill introduces enhanced penalties for repeat offenders of retail theft, allowing for a misdemeanor charge to be elevated to a Class I felony, and a felony charge to be increased by one classification, if the individual has prior convictions for similar offenses. Importantly, these aggregated acts can be prosecuted as a single crime, simplifying the legal process for prosecutors. The new provisions will apply to violations committed on or after the bill's effective date, but existing prior convictions can still be used for sentencing purposes.