Assembly Bill 89 aims to amend the statutes related to theft crimes in Wisconsin by allowing for the aggregation of values from multiple theft violations committed by the same individual within a six-month period. Specifically, the bill introduces new provisions under sections 943.20 (5) and 943.50 (6), which state that the value of property from multiple violations can be combined for charging and penalty determinations. This means that if a defendant commits several thefts within this timeframe, the total value of the stolen items can be considered collectively, potentially leading to a more severe penalty based on the aggregated value.

Additionally, the bill creates sections 971.19 (2m) and 971.36 (5), which outline the jurisdiction for prosecuting these aggregated theft crimes. It specifies that if multiple violations are prosecuted as a single crime, the trial can take place in any county where any of the violations occurred, and the prosecutor will have exclusive jurisdiction over the case. This legislative change is intended to streamline the prosecution of theft crimes and ensure that repeat offenders face appropriate penalties based on the total value of their thefts.