STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          5643

                               2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                       May 9, 2019
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Crime Victims,  Crime  and
          Correction

        AN  ACT  in relation to establishing the New York state organized retail
          crime task force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
          expiration thereof

          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  The  legislature  hereby  establishes  the New York state
     2  organized retail crime task force (referred to hereinafter as the  "task
     3  force")  to provide the governor and the legislature with information on
     4  organized retail crime and the advantages and drawbacks  of  instituting
     5  various countermeasures to counter losses from such theft in the state.
     6    § 2. 1. The task force shall consist of eleven members as follows:
     7    a.  three  members  appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be an
     8  individual who represents state or local law enforcement;
     9    b. two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
    10    c. two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
    11    d. one member appointed by the district attorneys association  of  the
    12  state of New York;
    13    e. one member appointed by the retail council of New York state;
    14    f.  one member appointed by the metro organized retail crime alliance;
    15  and
    16    g. one member appointed by the  New  England  organized  retail  crime
    17  alliance.
    18    2.  The  members  of  the task force shall receive no compensation for
    19  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
    20  incurred in the performance  of  their  duties  pursuant  to  this  act.
    21  Appointed  members  shall,  to  the  greatest extent practicable have by
    22  education or experience, knowledge of organized retail theft.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11344-01-9

        S. 5643                             2

     1    3. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall  be  filled
     2  in the same manner provided for in the initial appointment.
     3    4.  The task force may consult with any organization, government enti-
     4  ty, or person, in the development of its report required  under  section
     5  three of this act.
     6    §  3.  On  or before December 15, 2021, the task force shall submit to
     7  the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the  speaker  of
     8  the  assembly  a  report  containing,  but not limited to, the following
     9  information based on available data:
    10    1. a review of laws and regulations on organized retail crime used  by
    11  other  states,  the  federal  government, foreign countries, and foreign
    12  political and economic unions to regulate the marketplace;
    13    2. the use of organized retail theft's impact on state and  local  tax
    14  receipts;
    15    3.  the  need  for  interagency  coordination  of public education and
    16  outreach and prevention programs for business owners; and
    17    4. legislative and regulatory recommendations,  if  any,  to  increase
    18  transparency  and security, enhance consumer protections, prevent organ-
    19  ized retail theft, and to address the long term economic impact  related
    20  to the prevalence of organized retail crime.
    21    §  4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December
    22  15, 2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be  deemed
    23  repealed.