Bill > S1404

This bill aims to combat organized retail crime by establishing a comprehensive federal strategy to address the increasing theft and fraudulent activities targeting retail goods and cargo. The legislation creates the Organized Retail and Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center within the Department of Homeland Security, which will coordinate federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts to investigate and prevent organized retail crime. The bill modifies existing criminal statutes to expand legal tools for prosecuting these crimes, including broadening the definition of stolen goods transportation and allowing for aggregation of theft values over a 12-month period. It recognizes the significant economic impact of organized retail crime, which has seen a 93 percent increase in larceny incidents since 2019, and highlights the connection between these theft groups and other criminal activities like drug and weapons trafficking. The new center will be responsible for tracking crime trends, sharing information between agencies and private sector partners, assisting investigations, and providing annual public reports on organized retail crime. The legislation also mandates an evaluation of existing federal training and grant programs to support law enforcement in combating these crimes, with the center initially established for a fixed term to be reviewed and potentially renewed.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1404/all-info