Bill Text: DE SCR12 | 2025-2026 | 153rd General Assembly | Draft
Bill Title: Establishing The Retail Crime Prevention Task Force.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-01-29 - Passed In House by Voice Vote [SCR12 Detail]
Download: Delaware-2025-SCR12-Draft.html
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SPONSOR: |
Sen. Townsend & Sen. Hocker & Rep. Romer |
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Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lawson, Mantzavinos, Pettyjohn, Richardson, Sokola, Wilson |
DELAWARE STATE SENATE
153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 12
ESTABLISHING THE RETAIL CRIME PREVENTION TASK FORCE.
WHEREAS, Delaware retail workers deserve to work in a safe environment and to have employers and government officials who are committed to deterring and reducing retail crime, particularly violent retail crime; and
WHEREAS, Delawareans deserve the opportunity to shop in safety and comfort; and
WHEREAS, Delaware retailers deserve the opportunity to operate their businesses with a focus on the experience and satisfaction of their customers, against a backdrop of laws and enforcement designed to prevent retail crime before it occurs and optimize the public’s response to it when it does; and
WHEREAS, retail crime in Delaware has long been a reality and a source of frustrations for Delaware workers, retailers, and law enforcement officials alike; and
WHEREAS, there are various types of retail crime, including organized retail crime, retail crime driven by mental health or substance use issues, and retail crime driven by desperate economic need; and
WHEREAS, there are different drivers for these different types of retail crime; and
WHEREAS, there need to be different responses and solutions to these different types of retail crime, including coordinated efforts to hold accountable large networks involved in high-dollar organized retail crime, and properly address the treatment of single individuals involved in low-dollar retail crime while also acknowledging their impact on Delaware workers and retailers; and
WHEREAS, public discussions involving the many different stakeholders with informed perspectives on the occurrence and drivers of retail crime and potential measures to deter and respond to it are critical for addressing this public policy challenge in Delaware.
BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 153rd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the Retail Crime Prevention Task Force (“Task Force”) is hereby created.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force comprises the following voting members, or a designee selected by a member serving by virtue of position:
(1) A State Senator from the Majority Caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, who shall serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force.
(2) A State Representative from the Majority Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who shall serve as Co-Chair of the Task Force.
(3) A State Senator from the Minority Caucus, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(4) A State Representative from the Minority Caucus, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(5) The Attorney General or their designee.
(6) The Chief Defender of the Office of Defense Services or their designee.
(7) The Chief Judge of the Court of Common Pleas or their designee.
(8) The Commissioner of the Delaware Department of Correction or their designee.
(9) The Colonel of the Delaware State Police or their designee.
(10) The President of the Delaware Association of Chiefs of Police or their designee.
(11) The President of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce or their designee.
(12) The President of the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce or their designee.
(13) The President of the Delaware Hispanic Chamber of Commerce or their designee.
(14) The Executive Director of the Delaware Food Industry Council or their designee.
(15) The Chairman of the Delaware Asian American Business Association or their designee.
(16) An owner of a Kent County small-business retailer and an owner of a New Castle County small-business retailer, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(17) An owner of a Sussex County small-business retailer and an owner of a New Castle County small-business retailer, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(18) A mental health professional with experience in the causes of or treatment for retail theft, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
(19) An individual with experience in the development or implementation of diversion programs, to be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.
(20) The President of the Delaware Association of School Administrators or their designee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Task Force shall examine and recommend courses of legislative, regulatory, operational, and judicial action that consider or address retail crime broadly, including:
(1) Organized retail crime, its prevalence and impact on the Delaware community, and potential for enhancements in deterrence measures, prosecution, and restitution.
(2) Retail crime related to mental health or substance use, its prevalence and impact on the Delaware community, and potential for enhancements in deterrence measures, prosecution, diversion programs, and treatment programs.
(3) Retail crime related to individual economic hardship, its prevalence and impact on the Delaware community, and potential for enhancements in deterrence measures, prosecution, and diversion programs.
(4) Opportunities to strengthen relationships among retailers and law enforcement, including the adoption of best practices by retailers with regard to theft-prevention measures, evidence collection and preservation, and communications with law-enforcement officials.
(5) Opportunities to streamline adjudication of cases involving retail crime, including civil recovery in lieu of criminal prosecution.
(6) Opportunities to direct resources to evidence-based programs that address the drivers of retail crime.
(1) Official action by the Task Force, including making findings and recommendations, requires the approval of a majority of the members of the Task Force.
(2) The Task Force may adopt rules necessary for its operation.
(3) The co-chairs of the Task Force are responsible for guiding the administration of the Task Force by doing, at a minimum, all of the following:
a. Notifying individuals of their selection to serve on the Task Force, and setting a date, time, and place for the initial organizational meeting.
b. Supervising the preparation and distribution of meeting notices, agendas, minutes, correspondence, and reports of the Task Force.
c. Sending to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council, after the first meeting of the Task Force, a list of the members of the Task Force and the person who appointed them.
d. Providing meeting notices, agendas, and minutes to the Director of the Division of Research of Legislative Council.
e. Ensuring that the final report of the Task Force is submitted to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with copies to all members of the General Assembly; the Governor; the Director and the Librarian of the Division of Research of Legislative Council; and the Delaware Public Archives.
(4) The Task Force shall hold its first meeting no later than March 1, 2025.
(5) The co-chairs of the Task Force shall compile a report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations related to those issues, and submit the report no later than February 1, 2026.
SYNOPSIS
This resolution establishes a Retail Crime Prevention Task Force. The co-chairs of the Task Force are directed to compile a report containing a summary of the Task Force’s work regarding the issues assigned to it, including any findings and recommendations related to those issues, and submit the report no later than February 1, 2026.
Author: Senator Townsend
