Albany, NY – Assemblymember Manny De Los Santos celebrated the signing of protections for retail workers and small businesses into law with the Fiscal Year 2025 State Budget. Alongside Governor Kathy Hochul, Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton, retail workers, and small-business owners, new measures to combat the rising trend in retail theft and assaults were signed into law.

This trend has affected communities across the country, including New York City and the State of New York. Retail workers were essential workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and were continuously confronted with theft and violence, which have persisted, affecting retail workers and the functioning of small businesses. The measures signed into law are aimed at ensuring retail workers’ safety and economic security for small businesses. Those measures include:

• $40.2 million invested in Retail Theft Teams throughout the state.
• $5 million tax credit for small business owners to help with investments in security measures such as cameras.
• Permitting prosecutors to aggregate the value of stolen goods when filing charges for larceny to combat large-scale retail theft schemes.
• Preventing third-party sales of stolen goods by making it illegal to foster the sale of these goods, including online sales.
• Elevating the assault of a retail worker from a misdemeanor to a felony.

"Recognizing the crucial role of retail workers as essential contributors to our communities, enhancing public safety by strengthening penalties for theft and violence in retail settings is paramount,” said Assemblymember De Los Santos. “This measure reflects our unwavering commitment to doing what's right by creating safe and secure environments where both employees and customers can feel valued and protected. I express my gratitude to Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, and Senator Scarcella-Spanton for their steadfast dedication to enacting laws that prioritize the well-being of our essential workers and communities."

Governor Kathy Hochul said, "I promised the retail workers and our small business owners that I would protect them – and we are doing just that. Here in New York, we are standing up to organized retail theft, backing our businesses and their workers with the full force of the law, and restoring that sense of security and peace of mind so they can focus on what they do best."

State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said, "Today's signing represents an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to ensuring the well-being of our retail workers and protecting our small businesses from violent theft. I would like to commend our Governor Kathy Hochul, my partner in the Assembly, Manny de los Santos, CAPS, and all of our small business owners and representatives. Assaulting a retail worker will now be a felony. This measure derived from my legislation will elevate penalties for assaulting a retail worker because no one should have to live in fear of being assaulted when they go to work. We are here to reaffirm our commitment to their safety and the safety of all retail workers across the state. Throughout the pandemic, we relied on our retail workers as essential workers–often working unconventional hours in small businesses owned and operated by neighbors in the surrounding community. In this budget, we send a message to retail workers that we support them and that their lives are valuable. This package is a big win for public safety and our local businesses, and I'm really grateful to have played a part in getting these measures included for my constituents in Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn."