Cargo theft: working group.

Existing law establishes the Motor Carriers Safety Improvement Fund and provides that the fund is available for appropriation by the Legislature to cover the costs for the Department of the California Highway Patrol to deter commercial motor vehicle cargo thefts and provide security of highway carriers and cargoes throughout the state. This bill would create the California Agriculture Cargo Theft Prevention Working Group, to be coordinated by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and to consist of volunteer members from the county offices of the agricultural commissioner, the interested district attorney, the interested sheriff, and the agricultural industry stakeholders of each participating county. The bill would require the working group to address issues, including, but not limited to, agriculture cargo theft, problem solving, and theft control techniques. The bill would allow the working group to develop cargo theft prevention programs, including a system for reporting agriculture cargo theft in a timely manner, and a uniform procedure for all participating counties to collect data on agriculture cargo theft.