What's happening
This bill creates a temporary task force to study organized retail crime in New York and recommend countermeasures.
Why it matters
Brings together diverse perspectives. by including law enforcement, prosecutors, retail associations, and crime prevention alliances in the task force, encouraging a multifaceted approach to addressing organized retail crime.
Examines best practices from other jurisdictions. , such as other states, the federal government, and even foreign countries and unions, which could lead to innovative or proven solutions being considered for New York.
Directly addresses economic and tax impacts. by studying how organized retail theft affects state and local tax revenues, highlighting the broader financial consequences beyond just store losses.
Focuses on both prevention and legislative solutions. , looking at public education, interagency cooperation, and potential new laws or regulations to improve transparency, security, and consumer protections, with an eye toward long-term economic stability.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Retailers and the Retail Council of New York State
The council would appoint a task force member to help examine organized retail theft losses, prevention programs for business owners and potential countermeasures.
Law enforcement and district attorneys
The task force would include a state or local law enforcement representative and an appointee of the District Attorneys Association to help develop recommendations on organized retail crime.
Metro Organized Retail Crime Alliance and New England Organized Retail Crime Alliance
Each alliance would appoint a member to the task force reviewing laws and recommending ways to prevent organized retail theft.
Governor and legislative leaders
They would appoint task force members and receive a report by December 15, 2021, examining tax impacts, prevention coordination and potential legislative and regulatory changes.
Headline styles
Create Retail Crime Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
- Referred to crime victims, crime and correction
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create Retail Crime Task Force
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Michael Cusick
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
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 Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislature hereby establishes the New York state organized retail crime task force (referred to hereinafter as the "task force") to provide the governor and the legislature with information on organized retail crime and the advantages and drawbacks of instituting various countermeasures to counter losses from such theft in the state.
§ 2. 1. The task force shall consist of eleven members as follows:
a. three members appointed by the governor, one of whom shall be an individual who represents state or local law enforcement;
b. two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
c. two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
d. one member appointed by the district attorneys association of the state of New York;
e. one member appointed by the retail council of New York state;
f. one member appointed by the metro organized retail crime alliance; and
g. one member appointed by the New England organized retail crime alliance.
2. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act. Appointed members shall, to the greatest extent practicable have by 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
3. Any vacancies in the membership of the task force shall be filled in the same manner provided for in the initial appointment.
4. The task force may consult with any organization, government entity, or person, in the development of its report required under section three of this act.
§ 3. On or before December 15, 2021, the task force shall submit to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly a report containing, but not limited to, the following information based on available data:
1. a review of laws and regulations on organized retail crime used by other states, the federal government, foreign countries, and foreign political and economic unions to regulate the marketplace;
2. the use of organized retail theft's impact on state and local tax receipts;
3. the need for interagency coordination of public education and outreach and prevention programs for business owners; and
4. legislative and regulatory recommendations, if any, to increase transparency and security, enhance consumer protections, prevent organized retail theft, and to address the long term economic impact related to the prevalence of organized retail crime.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire December 15, 2021 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed repealed.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
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
Purpose
To create a task force exploring the advantages and drawbacks of insti- tuting various countermeasures to counter losses from organized retail theft.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Creation of the task force
Section 2. Eleven members including: 3 members appointed by the gover- nor, one of which is law enforcement; 2 members appointed by the Majori- ty Leader of the Senate; 2 members by the Speaker of the Assembly; 1 member appointed by the District Attorney's association; 1 member by the retail council of NYS; 1 member by the Metro organized retail crime alliance; 1 member by the New England organized retail crime alliance;
Section 3. Requires the task force to submit to the Governor and the Legislature a report
Section 4. Effective Date
Justification
Organized retail theft has cost the state and New York businesses billions of dollars. Last year, Home Depot alone lost $1.4 billion in retail theft. Organized retail theft costs consumers and taxpayers more in increased cost of goods and in increased law enforcement and security costs.
This consumer protection bill will empower a task force to provide inde- pendent and expert opinion on the best ways for the state to combat organized retail theft. Organized crime use the funds from retail theft to fund other organized illicit activities including drug trafficking and animal fighting.
Other states, including New Jersey, have created an organized retail theft task force to research and explore solutions to reduce organized crime. It is important to stop organized retail theft and protect consumers and businesses.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.