(Senate Bill 979 voted down)…It was submitted by State Senator Brian Jones, a Republican out of Santee.

The Bill called for increased penalties for persons caught stealing packages from the porch or entryway of someone’s home. The problem has been an issue for some time, but has become worse during the COVID 19 Pandemic, affecting vulnerable individuals unable to leave their homes and rely on package delivery for essential items such as medications and food. The Senate Public Safety Committee voted down the bill. Currently the thefts are listed as misdemeanors. The Jones bill would have given prosecutors a choice of filing misdemeanor or felony charges depending on severity. The Bill was reportedly voted down on a partisan vote.