Substitute House Bill No. 6796, also known as Special Act No. 23-20, is a legislative act aimed at addressing the issue of catalytic converter thefts through interstate cooperation and a comprehensive review of state laws. The act mandates the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection and the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to seek agreements with authorities in other states to develop a regional strategy to combat catalytic converter thefts. These agreements may include sharing information among law enforcement and regulatory agencies, coordinating activities, aligning laws for a uniform regulatory approach, and other measures to assist in preventing thefts. The commissioners are required to report to the General Assembly's public safety committee by January 1, 2024, on the progress of these agreements and any necessary legislation to implement them.

Additionally, the act establishes a task force to study and evaluate the impact of recent legal changes made by public act 22-43 and to recommend further revisions to deter thefts of catalytic converters. The task force will consist of various stakeholders, including appointed members from the House of Representatives, the Senate, motor vehicle recyclers, scrap metal processors, junk dealers, car dealers, municipal police chiefs, and designees from the Commissioners of Emergency Services and Public Protection and Motor Vehicles. The task force is required to submit a report with findings and recommendations to the General Assembly's public safety committee by January 1, 2024, and will terminate upon submission of the report or on that date, whichever is later. The act was approved on June 26, 2023.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 14-99h, 14-12r