This bill aims to combat retail theft by establishing a dedicated retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety and appropriating $1 million for its operations. It expands the definition of "dealing in stolen property" to encompass transactions conducted through online platforms and social media, and introduces a new offense called "fostering the sale of stolen property," targeting individuals who assist in selling stolen goods online. The bill also enhances legal protections for retail employees by amending the assault statute to recognize them as individuals performing their duties, and it creates a presumption of knowledge for those who take significant risks in facilitating the sale of stolen property.

Additionally, the bill introduces several amendments to strengthen penalties for retail theft-related offenses, including the aggregation of merchandise value for shoplifting offenses over a one-year period and mandatory community service for shoplifting convictions. It elevates the crime of leading an organized retail theft enterprise to a first-degree crime and imposes civil penalties for non-compliance with training requirements related to gift card fraud. The legislation also establishes new definitions for gift cards, mandates that retail establishments display consumer warnings about gift card scams, and requires third-party resellers to maintain transaction records for three years. Overall, the bill seeks to enhance consumer protection and law enforcement efforts against retail theft and fraud.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 2C:20-7.1, 2C:20-11.2, 54:52-9, 54:52-15, 56:8-110.1