MONTGOMERY -- A House committee on Wednesday revived a package of bills aimed at restructuring Alabama's system of criminal sentencing. The bills, supported by Attorney General Bill Pryor, were the result of three years of work by the Alabama Sentencing Commission.

The House Judiciary Committee voted last week against a key bill in the package. It would make the theft of something valued at more than $500 a felony, compared to $250 in the current law. Business owners had opposed the change, saying it would make it more difficult to stop shoplifters.

The committee reversed itself and approved a compromise theft bill, along with others in the package, Wednesday.

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