Compromise reached on metal theft legislation

A compromise has been reached on bills intended to make it harder to sell stolen metal.

House Bill 872, the agreement reached on bills by Sen. Renee Unterman, R-Buford, and Rep. Jason Shaw, R-Lakeland, comes on the last night of the legislative session, and it must be passed by both chambers Thursday night.

The bill would eliminate cash payments to metal sellers, but gone from the bill is a provision that would have required a 14-day waiting period for metal sellers to receive their payment.

Now the payment, either through a check, electronic funds transfer or voucher, may be provided at the point of sale. Unterman had argued that this provision was necessary to deter thefts in some cases by drug users looking to make fast money to buy drugs.

The metal industry argued that the provision was too punitive and would be difficult for metal purchasers.

The bill would prevent metal sellers from cashing the checks or redeeming the vouchers onsite, or installing any machines to do the transactions.

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