04/12/2024 03:15 PM House LABOR & COMMERCE

        HB 378-ORG. RETAIL THEFT/FUND;MKTPLACE SALES TAX                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
3:36:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER announced  that the next order of  business would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  378,  "An  Act relating  to  theft; relating  to                                                               
organized  retail  theft;  establishing a  statewide  marketplace                                                               
facilitator sales  tax; establishing  the organized  retail theft                                                               
fund in the general fund; and providing for an effective date."                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER opened public testimony on HB 378.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:37:06 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MARGARET BERGMAN,  Detective, Anchorage Police  Department (APD),                                                               
testified during the hearing on HB  378.  She provided history on                                                               
APD  and retail  theft.    She shared  that  property crimes  are                                                               
viewed  by many  as lower  priority, but  organized retail  crime                                                               
(ORC) is often linked to  a system of criminal activity regarding                                                               
homicide,   robberies,   and   fraud.      She   explained   that                                                               
communication between  law enforcement and retail  is critical to                                                               
facilitate  a  timeline for  prosecution.    She said  Alaska  is                                                               
currently missing an  ORC crime statute and  a conspiracy statute                                                               
that covers property  crimes.  ORC is considered  a gateway crime                                                               
that leads to fund other crimes.   She added that repeat suspects                                                               
appear to be undeterred by misdemeanor charges.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:29 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR SUMNER closed public testimony on HB 378.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
3:41:50 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE RUFFRIDGE moved to report  HB 378 out of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
notes.   There being no objection,  HB 378 was reported  from the                                                               
House Labor and Commerce Standing Committee.