The proposed bill aims to establish the criminal offense of organized retail theft in Arkansas by amending the Arkansas Code Title 5, Chapter 36. It introduces a new section, 5-36-127, which defines organized retail theft and outlines the specific actions that constitute this offense. These actions include theft of consumer goods, organizing or aiding in such theft, tampering with anti-shoplifting devices, unlawfully remaining in a retail establishment after hours, and using digital devices or vehicles to facilitate theft. The bill also specifies that the value of stolen property must exceed $1,000 within a 120-day period for the offense to be charged.

The bill categorizes organized retail theft into three classes of felonies based on the value of the stolen property: a Class B felony for thefts valued at $25,000 or more, a Class C felony for thefts valued between $5,000 and $25,000, and a Class D felony for thefts valued between $1,000 and $5,000. Additionally, it allows for the aggregation of theft instances across multiple judicial districts, enabling charges to be filed in any district where the thefts occurred, thus providing concurrent jurisdiction.