Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1826 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	H.B. No. 1826
2	2
3	3
4	4	AN ACT
5	5	relating to the establishment of an organized retail theft task
6	6	force.
7	7	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	8	SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is
9	9	amended by adding Section 403.0302 to read as follows:
10	10	Sec. 403.0302. ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT TASK FORCE. (a) In
11	11	this section, "organized retail theft" means conduct constituting
12	12	an offense under Section 31.16, Penal Code.
13	13	(b) The comptroller shall appoint a task force to study and
14	14	make recommendations related to preventing organized retail theft
15	15	in this state.
16	16	(c) The task force must include:
17	17	(1) at least one representative from a retailer with a
18	18	physical retail location;
19	19	(2) at least one representative from an online
20	20	retailer; and
21	21	(3) representatives from local, state, and federal law
22	22	enforcement agencies.
23	23	(d) The comptroller shall designate a member of the task
24	24	force as the presiding officer.
25	25	(e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call
26	26	of the presiding officer. A task force meeting may be conducted
27	27	virtually through the Internet.
28	28	(f) The task force shall conduct an ongoing study of
29	29	organized retail theft in this state. In conducting the study the
30	30	task force shall:
31	31	(1) review laws and regulations addressing organized
32	32	retail theft in other jurisdictions, including international
33	33	political and economic organizations;
34	34	(2) analyze:
35	35	(A) the impact of organized retail theft on the
36	36	collection of sales tax;
37	37	(B) the long-term economic impacts of organized
38	38	retail theft; and
39	39	(C) the advantages and disadvantages of taking
40	40	various actions to reduce organized retail theft; and
41	41	(3) make recommendations regarding:
42	42	(A) organized retail theft outreach and
43	43	prevention programs, including coordination among stakeholders,
44	44	including local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and
45	45	(B) training for law enforcement officers and
46	46	prosecutors on effective strategies for combating organized retail
47	47	theft.
48	48	(g) In conducting the study under Subsection (f), the
49	49	members of the task force may:
50	50	(1) consult with any organization, governmental
51	51	entity, or person the task force considers necessary; and
52	52	(2) collaborate and share information relating to an
53	53	active criminal investigation with one another regardless of
54	54	whether the information would otherwise be confidential and not
55	55	subject to disclosure under Chapter 552.
56	56	(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
57	57	the task force shall prepare and submit a report of the study
58	58	conducted under Subsection (f) to the governor, the lieutenant
59	59	governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
60	60	comptroller, and each standing committee of the legislature with
61	61	primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters.
62	62	(i) The report submitted under Subsection (h):
63	63	(1) must include legislative and other
64	64	recommendations to increase transparency, improve security,
65	65	enhance consumer protections, prevent organized retail theft, and
66	66	address the long-term economic impact of organized retail theft;
67	67	and
68	68	(2) may be submitted electronically.
69	69	(j) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the duration of the task
70	70	force or to the designation of the task force's presiding officer.
71	71	SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
72	72	of this Act, the comptroller of public accounts shall appoint the
73	73	organized retail theft task force as required by Section 403.0302,
74	74	Government Code, as added by this Act.
75	75	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
76	76	______________________________ ______________________________
77	77	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
78	78	I certify that H.B. No. 1826 was passed by the House on April
79	79	27, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 5, 1 present, not
80	80	voting.
81	81	______________________________
82	82	Chief Clerk of the House
83	83	I certify that H.B. No. 1826 was passed by the Senate on May
84	84	17, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 28, Nays 3.
85	85	______________________________
86	86	Secretary of the Senate
87	87	APPROVED: _____________________
88	88	Date
89	89	_____________________
90	90	Governor