One of this legislative year’s distractions -- involving negotiations that for quite some time had gone nowhere -- included a package of retail-theft proposals. That all changed on Thursday, August 8th, when it was announced by Senate President Pro Tem Mike McGuire that a successful conclusion had been reached in negotiations involving both the Assembly and Senate. Early indications are that the negotiated retail-theft proposals have at least some appeal for the big box retailers, who, heretofore, have been strong proponents of Proposition 36.
Legislative leaders who have been working on the package had argued that the ballot measure is too punitive, and their approach is more equitable in the changes it would make to Proposition 47. Reportedly, retailers and other supporters of Proposition 36 are still mulling over whether or not they will re-evaluate their campaign in light of these developments.
The retail-theft bills passed easily, despite a lack of enthusiasm from some progressive lawmakers who maintain that the package includes provisions that are too punitive to communities of color. Final approval is expected on Monday when both houses return from the weekend.