Retail Theft Prevention Program

The bill creates the retail theft prevention advisory board (advisory board) in the office of the attorney general (AGO). The advisory board shall develop procedures related to applying for a grant for the retail theft prevention grant program (grant program) created in the bill; review grant applications and award grants; collect and analyze data related to organized felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud trends, losses, prosecutions, and outcomes in Colorado; and develop policy recommendations in coordination with state and federal partners on how to combat felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud.

The bill creates the retail theft prevention grant program in the AGO. A state or local law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, multijurisdictional or regional task force, or tribal law enforcement agency may apply for a grant, which may be used to investigate and prosecute organized felony-level retail theft or gift card fraud; develop or invest in technology, data-sharing systems, and analytics tools to analyze felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud metrics; provide training and technical assistance to retailers or law enforcement agencies; and develop prevention and deterrence initiatives specific to felony-level retail theft and gift card fraud.

Beginning January 2028, the bill requires the AGO to annually report during its "SMART Act" hearing certain information about the grant program and felony-level retail theft in Colorado.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)