SB120 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Crimes and offenses, theft of shoplifting, crime created

Summary

SB 120 creates the crime of theft by shoplifting and sets penalties based on how much merchandise is stolen.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new crime of theft by shoplifting, defining key terms and listing actions that count as shoplifting (such as concealing items, altering price tags, transferring items to pay less, or bypassing security devices). It assigns four degrees of theft by shoplifting with corresponding penalties: first degree for more than $2,500 (Class B felony); second degree for $1,500 to $2,500 (Class C felony) and for thefts involving firearms; third degree for $500 to $1,500 (Class D felony); and fourth degree for up to $500 (Class A misdemeanor). It uses rules about intended theft and value to determine criminal liability and notes a constitutional exemption related to local funding requirements, with the law taking effect three months after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Retail merchants and their employees, who gain a defined crime and enforcement framework to address shoplifting and to rely on stated value- and proof-based rules.
• People who shoplift, who would face four escalating levels of penalties based on the value of merchandise taken (and special consideration for firearms).

Key Provisions

• Defines theft by shoplifting and key terms: conceal, merchandise, merchant, premises, and value.
• Specifies conduct that constitutes shoplifting (concealing items, altering labels or prices, transferring items to pay less, causing the till to reflect less, not scanning at self-checkout, and disabling security devices).
• Provides prima facie evidence that the offender intended to deprive the merchant of the full value when committing these acts, and notes the price tag is evidence of value and ownership.
• Establishes value-based degrees and penalties: >$2,500 (First degree, Class B felony); $1,500–$2,500 (Second degree, Class C felony, including firearm cases); $500–$1,500 (Third degree, Class D felony); ≤$500 (Fourth degree, Class A misdemeanor).
• Notes that the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements in Amendment 621 because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses