Grand theft: agricultural equipment.

Under existing law, obtaining by theft property with a value under $950 is petty theft, punishable as a misdemeanor, and obtaining by theft property with a value over $950 is grand theft, punishable as a misdemeanor or a felony. Existing law authorizes a fine of $1,000 for a misdemeanor or $10,000 for a felony, upon conviction for a crime punishable by imprisonment for which a fine is not prescribed. Existing law requires the proceeds of a fine imposed for a grand theft involving agricultural property, as specified, in counties participating in the Rural Crime Prevention Program to be allocated by the Controller, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to the Central Valley Rural Crime Prevention Program or the Central Coast Rural Crime Prevention Program. This bill would require the funds to be allocated in accordance with a specified rural crime prevention program schedule. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.