Metal theft bill clears a hurdle in Georgia

By Janel Davis

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A House Judiciary subcommittee passed its version of metal theft legislation Thursday, eliminating a key provision that would have required checks be mailed to sellers as payment for their goods.

House Bill 872, sponsored by Rep. Jason Shaw, R-Lakeland, includes several of the items contained in a similar bill sponsored by Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, that has been passed out of committee.

Shaw’s bill would eliminate cash payments to metal sellers, instead requiring the money be paid by check or through an electronic funds transfer. The bill does not include a waiting period before sellers can receive the money, but it originally required the check be mailed. Supporters of the provision said the mailing would help deter the thefts and would prevent the instant gratification that fuels much of the crime in the industry.

But House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, D-Atlanta, successfully amended the bill to eliminate the mailing requirement, saying it would not necessarily prove location because thieves can provide fraudulent mailing addresses.

Under the bill, metal buyers would now immediately issue a check or electronic transfer to sellers. They would keep a copy of the sellers' identification and make digital images of the items sold.

Rep. Tom Rice, R-Norcross, withdrew his metal theft bill on Thursday because most of the issues were included in Shaw’s bill.

Lawmakers have redoubled their efforts to combat metal theft as the price of metals have increased, and as the recession and a weak housing market have contributed to the problem and left many foreclosed and vacant homes susceptible to thieves.