Dupage Policy Journal

Sen. John Curran (R-Lemont) recently expressed his concerns on the Senate floor about House Bill 1091 that would strengthen security in online shopping.

“I see this bill as a small step forward but unfortunately, I think it's just a small step,” Curran said. “The third-party online regulation which is going to require proof of verification of sellers is a positive in this bill. As is the expansion of the statewide grand jury into retail theft for the Attorney General.”

Among other measures, the bill would require the Illinois State Police to have a portal for reporting revoked or suspended Firearm Owner's Identification Cards.

House Bill 1091 passed the Senate with 42 yes votes and 10 no votes, and passed the House with 96 yes votes and five no votes. It's been sent to the governor to be signed. 

Curran has issue with how the bill treats accomplices in retail thefts.

“No longer does this apply to the individuals like that. It no longer applies to two or more individuals in concert with each other entering a retail establishment with the intent to commit theft,” Curran said. “This has been narrowed in such a manner that it leaves us a lot of room in the future to improve upon.”

The initial intention of the bill was to combat retail theft. It amends the state’s criminal code and creates the Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers (INFORM Consumers) Act.

“This bill started as a giant step forward in combating organized retail theft and unfortunately, since that started it’s been backtracked significantly,” Curran said. “Unfortunately, that frontline theft has been reduced to the point now that it applies in a very minimalistic manner to really no one, and the individuals that it applies to can already be charged under burglary or robbery statutes. And what we've taken out of this bill is we've taken out individuals that receive purchased or possessed merchandise for the sale or resale knowing or believing that the merchandise to be stolen from retail establishments.”

The bill makes it so that a statewide grand jury may investigate, indict and prosecute violations of organized retail crime.