HB 12-1304 Summary

• Over $500 million in goods are stolen from Colorado businesses annually, costing the state nearly $15 million in lost sales tax revenue due to organized retail theft.

• Expands the definition of "theft detection deactivating device" to explicitly include jumper wires, wire cutters, and electronic article surveillance removal devices.

• Expands the definition of "theft detection shielding device" to include foil-lined or otherwise modified clothing, bags, purses, or containers designed to avoid detection by anti-theft devices.

• Upgrades false reporting to authorities from a class 3 misdemeanor to a class 2 misdemeanor when committed in violation of provisions about emergency alarms and committed during the commission of another criminal offense.

• Adds new prohibition against preventing legitimate fire alarms, emergency exit alarms, or other emergency alarms from sounding or being transmitted to emergency agencies by any means including deactivation.