Req. No. 1187 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) SENATE BILL 674 By: Treat AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to crime and punishment; creating the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force; providing sunset date; providing purpose ; providing for membership; stating quorum; allowing election of chairperson and vice chairperson; requiring appointments and first meeting within certain timeframe; disallowing compensation; providing staff; authorizing certain consultations; requiring ce rtain report; providing report requirements; providing for codification; and declaring an emergency. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLA HOMA: SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 2200 of Title 21, unless there is created a duplicati on in numbering, reads as follows: A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Organized Retail Crime Task Force until December 31, 2024. The purpose of the task force shall be to provide the Legislature and the Governor with information on organized retail crime and the advantages and drawbacks of instituting various countermeasures to counter losses from retail theft in the state. Req. No. 1187 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. The task force shall consi st of eleven (11) members as follows: 1. Three members, appointed by the Governor, one of who m shall be an individual who represents state or local law enfor cement; 2. Two members appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; 3. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; 4. One member appointed by the District Attorneys Council; 5. One member appointed by the Oklahoma Retail Merchants Association; 6. One member appointed by the State Chamber; and 7. One member appointed by the Attorney General. C. Quorum for official business of the task force shall be six members. A chairperson and a vice chairperson shall be elected by a majority vote of the members of the task force . D. Appointments to the task force shall be made by the appointing authority no later than sixty (60) days after the effective date of this act. Appointed members shall, to the greatest extent practicable, have by education or experience, knowledge of organized retail theft. The chair shall hold the first meeting of the task force no later than ninety (90) days after the effective date of this act. Any vacancies in the membership of the Req. No. 1187 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 task force shall be filled in the same manner provided for in the initial appointment. E. The members of the task force shall re ceive no compensation but shall receive travel reimbursement for n ecessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act . The task force shall be staffed by the Senate. F. The task force ma y consult with any organization, government entity, or person in the development of its report required pursuant to the provisions of subsection G of this section. G. On or before December 15, 2024, the task force shall electronically submit to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the House and Senate committees that oversee pu blic safety, a report containing, but not li mited to, the following information based on available da ta: 1. A review of laws and regulations on orga nized retail crime used by other states, the fed eral government, and foreign countries to regulate the market place; 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 preventi on programs for busi ness owners; and Req. No. 1187 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 relate d to the prevalence of organized retail crime. SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage an d approval. 59-1-1187 BG 1/18/2023 12:08:00 PM