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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of an organized retail theft task |
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force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 403.0302 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 403.0302. ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT TASK FORCE. (a) In |
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this section, "organized retail theft" means conduct constituting |
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an offense under Section 31.16, Penal Code. |
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(b) The comptroller shall appoint a task force to study and |
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make recommendations related to preventing organized retail theft |
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in this state. |
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(c) The task force must include: |
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(1) at least one representative working in a physical |
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retail location; |
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(2) at least one representative from an online |
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retailer; and |
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(3) representatives from local, state, and federal law |
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enforcement agencies. |
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(d) The comptroller shall designate a member of the task |
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force as the presiding officer. |
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(e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
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of the presiding officer. |
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(f) The task force shall conduct an ongoing study of |
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organized retail theft in this state. In conducting the study the |
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task force shall: |
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(1) review laws and regulations addressing organized |
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retail theft in other jurisdictions, including international |
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political and economic organizations; |
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(2) analyze: |
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(A) the impact of organized retail theft on the |
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collection of sales tax; |
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(B) the long-term economic impacts of organized |
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retail theft; and |
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(C) the advantages and disadvantages of taking |
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various actions to reduce organized retail theft; and |
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(3) make recommendations regarding organized retail |
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theft outreach and prevention programs, including coordination |
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among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. |
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(g) In conducting the study under Subsection (f), the task |
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force may consult with any organization, governmental entity, or |
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person the task force considers necessary. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the task force shall prepare and submit a report of the study |
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conducted under Subsection (f) to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the |
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comptroller, and each standing committee of the legislature with |
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primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters. The report |
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must include legislative and other recommendations to increase |
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transparency, improve security, enhance consumer protections, |
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prevent organized retail theft, and address the long-term economic |
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impact of organized retail theft. |
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(i) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the duration of the task |
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force or to the designation of the task force's presiding officer. |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the comptroller of public accounts shall appoint the |
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organized retail theft task force as required by Section 403.0302, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |