SB338 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Stolen property, to provide receiving a stolen firearm a felony, technical revisions, Secs. 13A-8-16, 13A-8-17, 13A-8-18, 13A-8-18.1, 13A-8-19 am'd.

Summary

SB 338 creates firearm-specific penalties for receiving stolen property and updates the receiving-stolen-property laws with value-based degrees.

What This Bill Does

It amends sections 13A-8-16 through 13A-8-19 to make receiving, retaining, or disposing of a stolen firearm a crime with new penalty levels based on the property's value. First degree applies when the stolen property is worth more than $2,500 (Class B felony). Second degree covers property valued $1,500-$2,500 or certain firearm scenarios (Class C felony, with special case for firearm under $500 if there’s a prior conviction). Third degree covers property valued $500-$1,499 or firearms valued under $500 (Class D felony). Fourth degree covers property valued up to $500 (Class A misdemeanor). The bill also includes technical revisions to the existing receiving-stolen-property offenses and notes how it interacts with Amendment 621 on local funding (the act is exempt from those local-funding requirements). The act would become effective immediately after governor’s approval.

Who It Affects

• People who receive, retain, or dispose of stolen property, including firearms, would face new, value-based degrees and penalties for those offenses.
• Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts would apply the revised statutes when charging and trying cases involving receiving stolen property; local governments are not required to fund any new local costs due to a constitutional exemption.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 13A-8-16, 13A-8-17, 13A-8-18, 13A-8-18.1, and 13A-8-19 to create crime classifications for receiving stolen firearms based on value and prior convictions.
• First degree: receiving stolen property over $2,500 in value is a Class B felony.
• Second degree: receiving stolen property worth $1,500–$2,500 or firearms under specific conditions (including prior conviction for receiving a stolen firearm) is a Class C felony.
• Third degree: receiving stolen property worth $500–$1,499 or firearms under $500 is a Class D felony.
• Fourth degree: receiving stolen property worth $500 or less is a Class A misdemeanor.
• Includes technical revisions to the receiving-stolen-property statutes and provides that the bill defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.
• Immediate effective date upon governor's 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