To repeal section 570.030, RSMo 1994, relating to the crime of stealing, and to enact in lieu thereof one new section relating to the same subject, with penalty provisions.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Section 570.030, RSMo 1994, is repealed and one new section enacted in lieu thereof to be known as section 570.030, to read as follows:

570.030. 1. A person commits the crime of stealing if he appropriates property or services of another with the purpose to deprive him thereof, either without his consent or by means of deceit or coercion.

2. Evidence of the following is admissible in any criminal prosecution under this section on the issue of the requisite knowledge or belief of the alleged stealer:

(1) That he failed or refused to pay for property or services of a hotel, restaurant, inn or boardinghouse;

(2) That he gave in payment for property or services of a hotel, restaurant, inn or boardinghouse a check or negotiable paper on which payment was refused;

(3) That he left the hotel, restaurant, inn or boardinghouse with the intent to not pay for property or services;

(4) That he surreptitiously removed or attempted to remove his baggage from a hotel, inn or boardinghouse.

3. Stealing is a class C felony if:

(1) The value of the property or services appropriated is one hundred fifty dollars or more; or

(2) The actor physically takes the property appropriated from the person of the victim; or

(3) The property appropriated consists of:

(a) Any motor vehicle, watercraft or aircraft; or

(b) Any will or unrecorded deed affecting real property; or

(c) Any credit card or letter of credit; or

(d) Any firearms; or

(e) A United States national flag designed, intended and used for display on buildings or stationary flagstaffs in the open; or

(f) Any original copy of an act, bill or resolution, introduced or acted upon by the legislature of the state of Missouri; or

(g) Any pleading, notice, judgment or any other record or entry of any court of this state, any other state or of the United States; or

(h) Any book of registration or list of voters required by chapter 115, RSMo; or

(i) Any animal of the species of horse, mule, ass, cattle, swine, sheep, or goat; or

(j) Live fish raised for commercial sale with a value of seventy-five dollars; or

(k) Any narcotic drugs as defined by section 195.010, RSMo; otherwise, stealing is a class A misdemeanor.

4. The theft of any item of property or services under subsection 3 of this section which exceeds one hundred fifty dollars may be considered a separate felony and may be charged in separate counts.