AB 2313 Summary

• Establishes the Metal Theft Task Force Program within the Department of Justice until January 1, 2020, to investigate and prosecute illegal recycling operations and metal theft crimes, with the department serving as the lead law enforcement agency.

• Creates the Metal Theft Task Force Fund, continuously appropriated to the Department of Justice, funded by fees from junk dealers and recyclers who are weighmasters, with proceeds capped at $2,000,000 annually.

• Requires weighmasters who are junk dealers or recyclers to pay additional license fees: $1,000 for fixed locations and $1,500 for non-fixed locations, in addition to existing $500 annual fees to the Department of Food and Agriculture.

• Authorizes the Department of Justice to enter into partnerships with local law enforcement agencies, regional task forces, and district attorneys to combat metal theft and related recycling crimes.

• Requires the Department of Justice to submit a comprehensive report to the Legislature by December 31, 2018, detailing the program's progress since 2016 in deterring, investigating, and prosecuting metal theft and illegal recycling operations.