Catalytic Converter Theft Task Force Act

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 2061 To require the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Trans- portation, to establish a task force to develop and implement strategies to deter, prevent, and combat the theft and trafficking of catalytic converters and other automobile parts that contain precious metals tar- geted by thieves. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES JUNE 20, 2023 Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. LUJA´N, Mr. HEINRICH, and Mr. WHITE- HOUSE) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To require the Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, to establish a task force to develop and implement strategies to deter, prevent, and combat the theft and trafficking of catalytic con- verters and other automobile parts that contain precious metals targeted by thieves. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Catalytic Converter 4 Theft Task Force Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •S 2061 IS SEC. 2. TASK FORCE TO COMBAT CATALYTIC CONVERTER 1 THEFT. 2 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 3 (1) COVERED AUTOMOBILE PARTS.—The term 4 ‘‘covered automobile parts’’ means catalytic con- 5 verters and other automobile parts that contain pre- 6 cious metals targeted by thieves. 7 (2) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any 8 State of the United States, the District of Columbia, 9 the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any territory 10 or possession of the United States. 11 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Attorney General, in 12 consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall 13 establish a task force to develop and implement strategies 14 to deter, prevent, and combat the theft and trafficking of 15 covered automobile parts (referred to in this section as the 16 ‘‘Task Force’’). 17 (c) MEMBERSHIP.—The Task Force shall be com- 18 posed of 11 members, of whom— 19 (1) 3 shall be appointed by the Attorney Gen- 20 eral from among employees of the Criminal Division 21 of the Department of Justice; 22 (2) 2 shall be appointed by the Secretary of 23 Transportation from among employees of the Na- 24 tional Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •S 2061 IS (3) 6 shall be appointed by the Attorney Gen- 1 eral from among representatives of State or local 2 law enforcement agencies. 3 (d) CHAIR; VICE CHAIR.—The Attorney General shall 4 select— 5 (1) a chair from among the members of the 6 Task Force appointed under subsection (c)(1); and 7 (2) a vice chair from among the members of the 8 Task Force appointed under subsection (c)(3). 9 (e) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 10 (1) assess existing laws, regulations, and law 11 enforcement practices and resources related to the 12 theft and trafficking of covered automobile parts; 13 and 14 (2) make recommendations to Congress, the At- 15 torney General, the Secretary of Transportation, and 16 State and local law enforcement agencies on legisla- 17 tive, regulatory, and law enforcement reforms to de- 18 velop and implement strategies to deter, detect, pre- 19 vent, solve, and prosecute the theft and trafficking 20 of covered automobile parts. 21 (f) POWERS.— 22 (1) TASK FORCE.—The Task Force may hold 23 such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 4 •S 2061 IS take such testimony, and receive such evidence as 1 the Task Force considers advisable. 2 (2) MEMBERS.—A member of the Task Force 3 may, with the authorization of the Task Force, take 4 any action that the Task Force is authorized to take 5 under this section. 6 (g) OPERATING RULES AND PROCEDURES.— 7 (1) MEETINGS.— 8 (A) INITIAL MEETING.—Not later than 30 9 days after the date on which a majority of 10 members of the Task Force have been ap- 11 pointed, the Task Force shall hold an initial 12 meeting. 13 (B) SUBSEQUENT MEETINGS.—After the 14 initial meeting under subparagraph (A), the 15 Task Force shall meet not less frequently than 16 once every 90 days. 17 (2) VOTING.—Each member of the Task Force 18 shall have 1 vote. 19 (3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The Task Force may 20 make a recommendation under subsection (e)(2) 21 only upon a majority vote. 22 (4) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of 23 the Task Force shall constitute a quorum, but a 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 5 •S 2061 IS lesser number of members may hold meetings, gath- 1 er information, and review draft reports. 2 (h) REPORTS.— 3 (1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days 4 after the date on which a majority of the members 5 of the Task Force have been appointed, the Task 6 Force shall submit an initial report on its composi- 7 tion, activities, and planned activities to— 8 (A) Congress; 9 (B) the Attorney General; and 10 (C) the Secretary of Transportation. 11 (2) INTERIM REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 12 after the date on which the Task Force is estab- 13 lished under subsection (b), the Task Force shall 14 submit an interim report on its legislative, regu- 15 latory, and law enforcement recommendations to— 16 (A) Congress; 17 (B) the Attorney General; 18 (C) the Secretary of Transportation; and 19 (D) the attorney general of each State. 20 (3) PERIODIC UPDATES.—The Task Force shall 21 provide periodic updates to Congress on its activities 22 and planned activities. 23 (4) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months 24 after the date on which the Task Force is estab- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 6 •S 2061 IS lished under subsection (b), the Task Force shall 1 submit a final report on its legislative, regulatory, 2 and law enforcement recommendations to— 3 (A) Congress; 4 (B) the Attorney General; 5 (C) the Secretary of Transportation; and 6 (D) the attorney general of each State. 7 (i) TERMINATION.—The Task Force shall terminate 8 on the date that is 18 months after the date on which 9 the Task Force is established under subsection (b). 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:05 Jul 13, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S2061.IS S2061 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB