- California's Senate is considering a bill that would change how retailers run self-checkout.
- The rule would prohibit retailers from offering self-checkout unless several conditions are met.
- Lawmakers and supporters say the changes are intended to reduce crime in the state.
The California legislature is considering a proposal that would bring significant changes to the self-checkout lanes in the state.
Under Senate Bill 1446, large grocery and drug retailers would have to satisfy a list of conditions in order to continue operating self-service kiosks in their stores.
Here's what would change if the proposal passes:
- At least one assisted checkout station must remain open at all times.
- Self-checkout lanes would be limited to 10 items or fewer.
- Restricted items like alcohol and tobacco, as well as items with enhanced security measures, must be checked out by an employee.
- A single worker may only be assigned to monitor two self-checkout stations, and they must have no other responsibilities during that time.
"This act will protect workers and the public by ensuring safe staffing levels at grocery and drug stores and regulating self-checkout machines in a way that's being smart on crime," said the bill's sponsor, Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, according to the Bay Area NBC affiliate.
The proposal comes as retailers have been rethinking their approach to self-checkout over the past year, including the role the tech plays in shoplifting and inventory shrink.
"The hope is that we can reduce the amount of theft that happens. That's a much better solution than punishing theft after it occurs," Cristine Soto DeBerry, founder of the Prosecutors Alliance of California, told the Bay Area ABC affiliate ABC7 News.
"One of the main deterrents from theft is that there are staff paying attention in the store to your activities," she said.
Walmart operates more than 300 locations in the state, while Target and Costco have 200 and 130, respectively.