Crimes: theft.

Removed subdivision (c) of Section 487j, which allowed the value of thefts committed against critical infrastructure within a 90-day period to be aggregated to meet the $950 grand theft threshold. This eliminated a mechanism that would have let prosecutors combine multiple smaller copper thefts from infrastructure targets into a single grand theft charge.

The legislative digest was reorganized: the Proposition 47 background text (explaining the Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act and the two-thirds amendment authority) was moved from the second paragraph to the first paragraph, consolidating all Prop 47 context before describing the bill's changes.

The bill title contains a drafting error: 'Sections 487j and 496 Section 487j of the Penal Code' appears to duplicate 'Section 487j' where it should read 'Sections 487j and 496 of the Penal Code.'

A section numbering error was introduced: the reimbursement provision is labeled both 'SEC. 3.' and 'SEC. 2.' on consecutive lines, likely a clerical mistake.

The entire proposed amendment to Penal Code Section 496 (receiving stolen property) was removed. The Senate version would have applied the same 'full cost to repair and replace' value calculation to receiving stolen property, but the Assembly version drops this, limiting the bill to copper theft only.

The bill's title and digest were updated to remove references to Section 496, confirming the narrowed scope to only Section 487j of the Penal Code.

The value calculation in Section 487j now explicitly excludes labor costs. The Senate version included 'labor and equipment' in the full replacement cost; the Assembly version adds the sentence: 'Value shall not include the cost of labor.' This significantly reduces the dollar amount that would push a theft over the $950 felony threshold.

A new clarifying phrase was added: 'equipment that was damaged or destroyed by the stealing, taking, or carrying away,' specifying that equipment used in the commission of the theft (not just the stolen materials) can be included in the replacement cost calculation.

Removed the entire greenhouse gas endangerment finding provision (former Section 1 legislative findings, former Section 2 adding Health and Safety Code Section 38502, and former Section 3 federal non-conflict clause). The bill no longer declares that greenhouse gases are air pollutants endangering public health or directs state agencies to enforce statutes consistent with that finding.

The bill title was changed from 'An act to add Section 38502 to, the Health and Safety Code, relating to greenhouse gases. amend Sections 487j and 496 of the Penal Code' to simply 'An act to amend Sections 487j and 496 of the Penal Code, relating to crimes.'

The remaining copper theft provisions (amendments to Penal Code Sections 487j and 496) were renumbered from Sections 4-6 to Sections 1-3. The legislative counsel's digest was updated to remove all greenhouse gas references.

The vote requirement line was corrected from 'majority 2/3' to '2/3', and the state-mandated local program designation was corrected from 'no yes' to 'yes.' Page numbers shifted from 98 to 97 reflecting the removed content.

The bill now amends Penal Code Sections 487j and 496, adding criminal law provisions on copper theft alongside the original greenhouse gas endangerment findings. The title was changed to reflect both subjects.

A new definition of 'value' for copper theft: it must be calculated as the full cost to the victim to repair and replace stolen materials, including labor and equipment, rather than the fair market scrap value. This applies to both grand theft (Section 487j) and receiving stolen property (Section 496).

The value of multiple thefts committed against critical infrastructure within a 90-day period may be aggregated to meet the $950 grand theft threshold, making it easier to charge repeat copper theft as a felony.

A civil action provision was added allowing victims to sue for three times actual damages plus costs and attorney's fees for violations of the receiving stolen property statute (Section 496).

The vote requirement changed from a simple majority to a two-thirds majority of each house, because the bill now amends Proposition 47 (Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Act), which requires supermajority approval for amendments.

State-mandated local program status changed from 'no' to 'yes' because expanding the scope of a crime imposes costs on local agencies. A new section explicitly states no reimbursement is required under Article XIII B because the costs relate to creating or changing crimes.