A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to create the offense of habitual misdemeanor larceny.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 16 of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 14-86.2.  Habitual misdemeanor larceny.
(a)	The following definitions apply in this section:
(1)	"Convicted" means the person has been adjudged guilty of or has entered a plea of guilty or no contest to the misdemeanor larceny charge, and judgment has been entered thereon when the action occurred.
(2)	"Misdemeanor larceny" includes the following offenses:
a.	Misdemeanor larceny pursuant to G.S. 14-72(a).
b.	Any repealed or superseded offense substantially equivalent to misdemeanor larceny under G.S. 14-72(a).
c.	Any offense committed in another jurisdiction substantially similar to misdemeanor larceny under G.S. 14-72(a).
(b)	A person commits the offense of habitual misdemeanor larceny if that person is 18 years of age or older, commits misdemeanor larceny under G.S. 14-72(a), and has been convicted of five or more prior misdemeanor larceny convictions. A person convicted of violating this section is guilty of a Class H felony.
(c)	For purposes of this section, if an offender is convicted of more than one offense of misdemeanor larceny in a single session of district court, or in a single week of superior court or of a court in another jurisdiction, only one of the convictions may be used to establish the offense of habitual misdemeanor larceny."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2003, and applies to offenses committed on or after that date.