2014 -- S 2643 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC004455/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, FALSE PRETENSES

AND MISAPPROPRIATION

     

     Introduced By: Senators Sosnowski, Algiere, Walaska, Felag, and Cool Rumsey

     Date Introduced: March 04, 2014

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     (Attorney General)

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 11-41 of the General Laws entitled "Theft, Embezzlement, False

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Pretenses, and Misappropriation" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     11-41-33. Larceny of farm products. -- (a) Definitions. - As used in this section:

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     (1) "Farm product" means goods used in a farming operation, including, but not limited

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to:

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     (i) Crops grown, growing, or to be grown, including, but not limited to, crops produced

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on trees, vines, and bushes, aquatic goods produced in aquacultural operations, and horticultural

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and forestry products;

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     (ii) Livestock, born or unborn, including aquatic goods produced in aquacultural

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operations;

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     (iii) Supplies used or produced in a farming operation; or

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     (iv) Products of crops or livestock in their unmanufactured states.

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     (2) "Farming operation" means the commercial raising, cultivating, propagating,

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fattening, grazing, or any other farming, livestock, or aquacultural, horticultural or forestry

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operation, whereby the operation is eligible to be classified as a farm pursuant to the provisions of

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chapter 27 of title 44.

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     (3) "Value" means credible evidence that establishes the worth of the farm product on the

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day of the theft in comparison with a farm product of the same variety and weight.

 

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     (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to steal a farm product that is the property of a

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farming operation, from the farm itself, or the place where the farm product is sold.

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     (c) Any person found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a felony if the

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wholesale value of the farm product is two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) or more, and, upon

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conviction, shall be subject to imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more

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than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

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     (d) Any person found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor if the

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wholesale value of the farm product is less than two hundred and fifty dollars ($250) and, upon

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conviction, shall be subject to imprisonment of no more than one year, a fine of not more than

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one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENSES - THEFT, EMBEZZLEMENT, FALSE PRETENSES

AND MISAPPROPRIATION

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     This act would make it unlawful for any person to steal a farm product that is the

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property of a farming operation, from the farm itself, or the place where the farm product is sold.

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This act would also impose penalties for any person found in violation of this section, depending

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on whether or not the value of the farm product is more or less than two hundred and fifty dollars

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($250).

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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