CA AB1597

Reinstate penalties for persons with 3 or more prior convictions for petty theft, shoplifting, grand theft, burglary, robbery, or related offenses who are subsequently convicted of petty theft or shoplifting, making them punishable by up to one year in county jail or 16 months to 3 years in state prison.

Extend enhanced penalties to shoplifting offenses (in addition to petty theft) for persons with prior serious, violent, or sexual felony convictions or those required to register as sex offenders under the Sex Offender Registration Act.

Apply the reinstated three-strike provision to shoplifting as defined under Proposition 47, which covers taking property valued at $950 or less from commercial establishments.

Call a special election to be consolidated with the November 8, 2022 statewide general election for voters to approve amendments to Proposition 47.

Take effect immediately as an election measure while the substantive amendments (Sections 1, 2, and 3) become effective only upon voter approval at the November 8, 2022 election.