AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GIFT CARD FRAUD

SB 1133 reclassifies unauthorized use or theft of gift cards as larceny or forgery under state law. It makes it a crime to steal or use a gift card without consent (under $1,500) or alter a gift card, subjecting offenders to larceny penalties (up to $1,000 fine or 1 year in jail) or forgery penalties. For amounts exceeding $1,500 or repeated offenses within six months, penalties escalate to standard larceny charges. This directly affects gift card holders (who may be defrauded), card issuers, and retailers, by treating gift card fraud as equivalent to traditional property theft under Chapter 6-59. The bill takes effect upon passage.