Committee advances bill making possession of stolen gift‑card information larceny

Senator Logan told the Public Safety Committee that Senate Bill 1980 would expand existing larceny language to include possession or retention of gift cards, gift certificates or their redemption information with intent to defraud. He emphasized the focus on criminal intent: “I’m gonna highlight the word intent there,” Logan said.

Committee members probed whether the offense would be a misdemeanor or a felony and how prosecutors would determine the proper charge. The author said the bill does not change the statutory punishment scheme; existing larceny thresholds under Title 21 and Section 1702 determine whether an offense is prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony. Logan said the measure is primarily intended to target organized‑crime syndicates that possess dozens or hundreds of cards, not routine shoplifting.

Several senators urged tightening the language to make the organized‑crime focus explicit and to avoid unintentionally exposing one‑card incidents to felony charges. The author said he would be willing to consider language changes and reiterated the intent to address larger schemes. The committee recorded 7 ayes and 2 nays and declared the bill passed to the Senate floor.