As Introduced

125th General Assembly
Regular Session
2003-2004
H. B. No. 536


REPRESENTATIVES Schlichter, Latta, Wolpert, McGregor, Reidelbach, Aslanides, S. Smith, Webster, Hollister, Hoops, DeWine, Setzer, Daniels, Schaffer



A BILL
To amend sections 2913.01 and 2913.02 of the Revised 1
Code to make the penalty for theft of anhydrous 2
ammonia a felony of the third degree.3


BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

       Section 1.  That sections 2913.01 and 2913.02 of the Revised 4
Code be amended to read as follows:5

       Sec. 2913.01.  As used in this chapter, unless the context6
requires that a term be given a different meaning:7

       (A) "Deception" means knowingly deceiving another or causing8
another to be deceived by any false or misleading representation,9
by withholding information, by preventing another from acquiring10
information, or by any other conduct, act, or omission that11
creates, confirms, or perpetuates a false impression in another,12
including a false impression as to law, value, state of mind, or13
other objective or subjective fact.14

       (B) "Defraud" means to knowingly obtain, by deception, some15
benefit for oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by16
deception, some detriment to another.17

       (C) "Deprive" means to do any of the following:18

       (1) Withhold property of another permanently, or for a period 19
that appropriates a substantial portion of its value or use, or 20
with purpose to restore it only upon payment of a reward or other 21
consideration;22

       (2) Dispose of property so as to make it unlikely that the23
owner will recover it;24

       (3) Accept, use, or appropriate money, property, or services, 25
with purpose not to give proper consideration in return for the 26
money, property, or services, and without reasonable justification 27
or excuse for not giving proper consideration.28

       (D) "Owner" means, unless the context requires a different29
meaning, any person, other than the actor, who is the owner of,30
who has possession or control of, or who has any license or31
interest in property or services, even though the ownership,32
possession, control, license, or interest is unlawful.33

       (E) "Services" include labor, personal services, professional 34
services, public utility services, common carrier services, and 35
food, drink, transportation, entertainment, and cable television 36
services and, for purposes of section 2913.04 of the Revised Code, 37
include cable services as defined in that section.38

       (F) "Writing" means any computer software, document, letter,39
memorandum, note, paper, plate, data, film, or other thing having40
in or upon it any written, typewritten, or printed matter, and any41
token, stamp, seal, credit card, badge, trademark, label, or other42
symbol of value, right, privilege, license, or identification.43

       (G) "Forge" means to fabricate or create, in whole or in part 44
and by any means, any spurious writing, or to make, execute,45
alter, complete, reproduce, or otherwise purport to authenticate46
any writing, when the writing in fact is not authenticated by that47
conduct.48

       (H) "Utter" means to issue, publish, transfer, use, put or49
send into circulation, deliver, or display.50

       (I) "Coin machine" means any mechanical or electronic device51
designed to do both of the following:52

       (1) Receive a coin, bill, or token made for that purpose;53

       (2) In return for the insertion or deposit of a coin, bill,54
or token, automatically dispense property, provide a service, or55
grant a license.56

       (J) "Slug" means an object that, by virtue of its size,57
shape, composition, or other quality, is capable of being inserted58
or deposited in a coin machine as an improper substitute for a59
genuine coin, bill, or token made for that purpose.60

       (K) "Theft offense" means any of the following:61

       (1) A violation of section 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11,62
2911.12, 2911.13, 2911.31, 2911.32, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04,63
2913.041, 2913.05, 2913.06, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32,64
2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.42, 2913.43, 2913.44, 2913.45,65
2913.47, former section 2913.47 or 2913.48, or section 2913.51,66
2915.05, or 2921.41 of the Revised Code;67

       (2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance68
or law of this or any other state, or of the United States,69
substantially equivalent to any section listed in division (K)(1)70
of this section or a violation of section 2913.41, 2913.81, or71
2915.06 of the Revised Code as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;72

       (3) An offense under an existing or former municipal73
ordinance or law of this or any other state, or of the United74
States, involving robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, theft,75
embezzlement, wrongful conversion, forgery, counterfeiting,76
deceit, or fraud;77

       (4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in78
committing, any offense under division (K)(1), (2), or (3) of this79
section.80

       (L) "Computer services" includes, but is not limited to, the81
use of a computer system, computer network, computer program, data82
that is prepared for computer use, or data that is contained83
within a computer system or computer network.84

       (M) "Computer" means an electronic device that performs85
logical, arithmetic, and memory functions by the manipulation of86
electronic or magnetic impulses. "Computer" includes, but is not87
limited to, all input, output, processing, storage, computer88
program, or communication facilities that are connected, or89
related, in a computer system or network to an electronic device90
of that nature.91

       (N) "Computer system" means a computer and related devices,92
whether connected or unconnected, including, but not limited to,93
data input, output, and storage devices, data communications94
links, and computer programs and data that make the system capable95
of performing specified special purpose data processing tasks.96

       (O) "Computer network" means a set of related and remotely97
connected computers and communication facilities that includes98
more than one computer system that has the capability to transmit99
among the connected computers and communication facilities through100
the use of computer facilities.101

       (P) "Computer program" means an ordered set of data102
representing coded instructions or statements that, when executed103
by a computer, cause the computer to process data.104

       (Q) "Computer software" means computer programs, procedures,105
and other documentation associated with the operation of a106
computer system.107

       (R) "Data" means a representation of information, knowledge,108
facts, concepts, or instructions that are being or have been109
prepared in a formalized manner and that are intended for use in a110
computer, computer system, or computer network. For purposes of111
section 2913.47 of the Revised Code, "data" has the additional112
meaning set forth in division (A) of that section.113

       (S) "Cable television service" means any services provided by 114
or through the facilities of any cable television system or other 115
similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications system, or any 116
microwave or similar transmission service used in connection with 117
any cable television system or other similar closed circuit 118
coaxial cable communications system.119

       (T) "Gain access" means to approach, instruct, communicate120
with, store data in, retrieve data from, or otherwise make use of121
any resources of a computer, computer system, or computer network,122
or any cable service or cable system both as defined in section123
2913.04 of the Revised Code.124

       (U) "Credit card" includes, but is not limited to, a card,125
code, device, or other means of access to a customer's account for126
the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor, or services on127
credit, or for initiating an electronic fund transfer at a128
point-of-sale terminal, an automated teller machine, or a cash129
dispensing machine. It also includes a county procurement card 130
issued under section 301.29 of the Revised Code.131

       (V) "Electronic fund transfer" has the same meaning as in 92132
Stat. 3728, 15 U.S.C.A. 1693a, as amended.133

       (W) "Rented property" means personal property in which the134
right of possession and use of the property is for a short and135
possibly indeterminate term in return for consideration; the136
rentee generally controls the duration of possession of the137
property, within any applicable minimum or maximum term; and the138
amount of consideration generally is determined by the duration of139
possession of the property.140

       (X) "Telecommunication" means the origination, emission,141
dissemination, transmission, or reception of data, images,142
signals, sounds, or other intelligence or equivalence of143
intelligence of any nature over any communications system by any144
method, including, but not limited to, a fiber optic, electronic,145
magnetic, optical, digital, or analog method.146

       (Y) "Telecommunications device" means any instrument,147
equipment, machine, or other device that facilitates148
telecommunication, including, but not limited to, a computer,149
computer network, computer chip, computer circuit, scanner,150
telephone, cellular telephone, pager, personal communications151
device, transponder, receiver, radio, modem, or device that152
enables the use of a modem.153

       (Z) "Telecommunications service" means the providing,154
allowing, facilitating, or generating of any form of155
telecommunication through the use of a telecommunications device156
over a telecommunications system.157

       (AA) "Counterfeit telecommunications device" means a158
telecommunications device that, alone or with another159
telecommunications device, has been altered, constructed,160
manufactured, or programmed to acquire, intercept, receive, or161
otherwise facilitate the use of a telecommunications service or162
information service without the authority or consent of the163
provider of the telecommunications service or information service.164
"Counterfeit telecommunications device" includes, but is not165
limited to, a clone telephone, clone microchip, tumbler telephone,166
or tumbler microchip; a wireless scanning device capable of167
acquiring, intercepting, receiving, or otherwise facilitating the168
use of telecommunications service or information service without169
immediate detection; or a device, equipment, hardware, or software170
designed for, or capable of, altering or changing the electronic171
serial number in a wireless telephone.172

       (BB)(1) "Information service" means, subject to division173
(BB)(2) of this section, the offering of a capability for174
generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing,175
retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via176
telecommunications, including, but not limited to, electronic177
publishing.178

       (2) "Information service" does not include any use of a179
capability of a type described in division (BB)(1) of this section180
for the management, control, or operation of a telecommunications181
system or the management of a telecommunications service.182

       (CC) "Elderly person" means a person who is sixty-five years183
of age or older.184

       (DD) "Disabled adult" means a person who is eighteen years of 185
age or older and has some impairment of body or mind that makes186
the person unfit to work at any substantially remunerative187
employment that the person otherwise would be able to perform and188
that will, with reasonable probability, continue for a period of189
at least twelve months without any present indication of recovery190
from the impairment, or who is eighteen years of age or older and191
has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by an192
agency of this state or the United States that has the function of193
so classifying persons.194

       (EE) "Firearm" and "dangerous ordnance" have the same195
meanings as in section 2923.11 of the Revised Code.196

       (FF) "Motor vehicle" has the same meaning as in section197
4501.01 of the Revised Code.198

       (GG) "Dangerous drug" has the same meaning as in section199
4729.01 of the Revised Code.200

       (HH) "Drug abuse offense" has the same meaning as in section201
2925.01 of the Revised Code.202

       (II) "Anhydrous ammonia" is a compound formed by the 203
combination of two gaseous elements, nitrogen and hydrogen, in the 204
manner described in this division. Anhydrous ammonia is one part 205
nitrogen to three parts hydrogen (NH3). Anhydrous ammonia by 206
weight is fourteen parts nitrogen to three parts hydrogen, which 207
is approximately eighty-two per cent nitrogen to eighteen per cent 208
hydrogen.209

       Sec. 2913.02.  (A) No person, with purpose to deprive the210
owner of property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert211
control over either the property or services in any of the212
following ways:213

       (1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to214
give consent;215

       (2) Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the 216
owner or person authorized to give consent;217

       (3) By deception;218

       (4) By threat;219

       (5) By intimidation.220

       (B)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of theft.221

       (2) Except as otherwise provided in this division or division 222
(B)(3), (4), (5), or (6), or (7) of this section, a violation of223
this section is petty theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If 224
the value of the property or services stolen is five hundred225
dollars or more and is less than five thousand dollars or if the226
property stolen is any of the property listed in section 2913.71227
of the Revised Code, a violation of this section is theft, a228
felony of the fifth degree. If the value of the property or229
services stolen is five thousand dollars or more and is less than230
one hundred thousand dollars, a violation of this section is grand231
theft, a felony of the fourth degree. If the value of the property 232
or services stolen is one hundred thousand dollars or more and is 233
less than five hundred thousand dollars, a violation of this 234
section is aggravated theft, a felony of the third degree. If the 235
value of the property or services is five hundred thousand dollars 236
or more and is less than one million dollars, a violation of this 237
section is aggravated theft, a felony of the second degree. If the 238
value of the property or services stolen is one million dollars or 239
more, a violation of this section is aggravated theft of one 240
million dollars or more, a felony of the first degree.241

       (3) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(4), (5), or242
(6), or (7) of this section, if the victim of the offense is an 243
elderly person or disabled adult, a violation of this section is 244
theft from an elderly person or disabled adult, and division 245
(B)(3) of this section applies. Except as otherwise provided in 246
this division, theft from an elderly person or disabled adult is a247
felony of the fifth degree. If the value of the property or248
services stolen is five hundred dollars or more and is less than249
five thousand dollars, theft from an elderly person or disabled250
adult is a felony of the fourth degree. If the value of the251
property or services stolen is five thousand dollars or more and252
is less than twenty-five thousand dollars, theft from an elderly253
person or disabled adult is a felony of the third degree. If the254
value of the property or services stolen is twenty-five thousand255
dollars or more and is less than one hundred thousand dollars,256
theft from an elderly person or disabled adult is a felony of the257
second degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is 258
one hundred thousand dollars or more, theft from an elderly person 259
or disabled adult is a felony of the first degree.260

       (4) If the property stolen is a firearm or dangerous261
ordnance, a violation of this section is grand theft, a felony of262
the third degree, and there is a presumption in favor of the court 263
imposing a prison term for the offense. The offender shall serve 264
the prison term consecutively to any other prison term or 265
mandatory prison term previously or subsequently imposed upon the 266
offender.267

       (5) If the property stolen is a motor vehicle, a violation of 268
this section is grand theft of a motor vehicle, a felony of the269
fourth degree.270

       (6) If the property stolen is any dangerous drug, a violation 271
of this section is theft of drugs, a felony of the fourth degree,272
or, if the offender previously has been convicted of a felony drug 273
abuse offense, a felony of the third degree.274

       (7) If the property stolen is anhydrous ammonia, a violation 275
of this section is theft of anhydrous ammonia, a felony of the 276
third degree.277

       (8) In addition to the penalties described in division (B)(2) 278
of this section, if the offender committed the violation by279
causing a motor vehicle to leave the premises of an establishment280
at which gasoline is offered for retail sale without the offender281
making full payment for gasoline that was dispensed into the fuel282
tank of the motor vehicle or into another container, the court may 283
do one of the following:284

        (a) Unless division (B)(7)(8)(b) of this section applies,285
suspend for not more than six months the offender's driver's 286
license, probationary driver's license, commercial driver's 287
license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating 288
privilege;289

        (b) If the offender's driver's license, probationary driver's 290
license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction 291
permit, or nonresident operating privilege has previously been 292
suspended pursuant to division (B)(7)(8)(a) of this section, 293
impose a class seven suspension of the offender's license, permit, 294
or privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of 295
section 4510.02 of the Revised Code, provided that the suspension 296
shall be for at least six months.297

       (C) The sentencing court that suspends an offender's license,298
permit, or nonresident operating privilege under division 299
(B)(7)(8) of this section may grant the offender limited driving 300
privileges during the period of the suspension in accordance with 301
Chapter 4510. of the Revised Code.302

       Section 2.  That existing sections 2913.01 and 2913.02 of the 303
Revised Code are hereby repealed.304

       Section 3.  Section 2913.02 of the Revised Code is presented 305
in this act as a composite of the section as amended by Am. Sub. 306
H.B. 7, Am. Sub. H.B. 12, and Sub. H.B. 179 of the 125th General 307
Assembly. The General Assembly, applying the principle stated in 308
division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that amendments 309
are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous 310
operation, finds that the composite is the resulting version of 311
the section in effect prior to the effective date of the section 312
as presented in this act.313