1159 AMH MORG HARO 450

HB 1159 - H AMD 1659

By Representative Morgan

Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following"

"NEW SECTION. Sec. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 RCW to read as follows:

(1) The department of commerce shall convene a work group to develop recommendations related to retail loss prevention and enforcement.

(2)(a) The work group must include members representing the following interests and entities:

(i) Large-scale and small-scale grocers and retail establishments;

(ii) Labor unions representing grocery and retail employees;

(iii) Loss prevention professionals and persons who provide training for loss prevention professionals;

(iv) Retail security experts;

(v) Law enforcement;

(vi) Organizations representing historically marginalized communities;

(vii) The office of the attorney general; and

(viii) The human rights commission.

(b) The work group must also include four legislative members, including one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, and one member from each of the two largest caucuses of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house.

(3) The work group must:

(a) Examine and make recommendations related to loss prevention protocols and strategies for engagement with persons suspected of theft or attempted theft in retail establishments, including recommending best practices for: Engaging in appropriate and equitable contacts with customers and persons suspected of retail theft; engaging in varying degrees of intervention according to the conduct that is being addressed; employing conflict mitigation strategies; and utilizing trespassing and other processes as an alternative to pursuing arrest and prosecution;

(b) Examine and recommend best practices for training of loss prevention professionals including, but not limited to, increasing implicit bias training and training related to appropriate and equitable engagement with customers and persons suspected of retail theft; and

(c) Review existing data related to retail theft offenses and identify data gaps that should be addressed through further data collection. The review must include, but is not limited to, an assessment of available data related to the extent to which retail theft arrests and prosecutions involve individual actors versus organized retail theft operations, and data related to the underlying factors that lead persons to engage in retail theft. The work group may request assistance from the administrative office of the courts, the Washington association of sheriffs and police chiefs, and other entities that may have access to relevant data.

(4) The department of commerce shall administer and provide staff support for the work group.

(5) The work group must report its findings and recommendations to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2020.

NEW SECTION. Sec. Section 1 of this act expires December 1, 2021."

Correct the title.

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