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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
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AN ACT
|
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relating to the powers and duties of the Texas Department of Public |
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Safety and the investigation, prosecution, punishment, and |
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prevention of certain offenses; creating an offense and increasing |
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a criminal penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 2.12. WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace |
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officers: |
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(1) sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve |
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deputies who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under |
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Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; |
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(2) constables, deputy constables, and those reserve |
|
deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued |
|
under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; |
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(3) marshals or police officers of an incorporated |
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city, town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers |
|
who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter |
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1701, Occupations Code; |
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(4) rangers, [and] officers, and members of the |
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reserve officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission |
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and the Director of the Department of Public Safety; |
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(5) investigators of the district attorneys', criminal |
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district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices; |
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(6) law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic |
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Beverage Commission; |
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(7) each member of an arson investigating unit |
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commissioned by a city, a county, or the state; |
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(8) officers commissioned under Section 37.081, |
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Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code; |
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(9) officers commissioned by the General Services |
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Commission; |
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(10) law enforcement officers commissioned by the |
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Parks and Wildlife Commission; |
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(11) airport police officers commissioned by a city |
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with a population of more than 1.18 million located primarily in a |
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county with a population of 2 million or more that operates an |
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airport that serves commercial air carriers; |
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(12) airport security personnel commissioned as peace |
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officers by the governing body of any political subdivision of this |
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state, other than a city described by Subdivision (11), that |
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operates an airport that serves commercial air carriers; |
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(13) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and |
|
security officers; |
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(14) security officers and investigators commissioned |
|
as peace officers by the comptroller; |
|
(15) officers commissioned by a water control and |
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improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code; |
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(16) officers commissioned by a board of trustees |
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under Chapter 54, Transportation Code; |
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(17) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical |
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Board; |
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(18) officers commissioned by: |
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(A) the board of managers of the Dallas County |
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Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar |
|
County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District |
|
under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code; |
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(B) the board of directors of the Ector County |
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Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local |
|
Laws Code; and |
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(C) the board of directors of the Midland County |
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Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121, |
|
Special District Local Laws Code; |
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(19) county park rangers commissioned under |
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Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code; |
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(20) investigators employed by the Texas Racing |
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Commission; |
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(21) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, |
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Occupations Code; |
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(22) officers commissioned by the governing body of a |
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metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, |
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Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority |
|
under Section 452.110, Transportation Code; |
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(23) investigators commissioned by the attorney |
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general under Section 402.009, Government Code; |
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(24) security officers and investigators commissioned |
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as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code; |
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(25) an officer employed by the Department of State |
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Health Services under Section 431.2471, Health and Safety Code; |
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(26) officers appointed by an appellate court under |
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Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code; |
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(27) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal |
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under Chapter 417, Government Code; |
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(28) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner |
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of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code; |
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(29) apprehension specialists and inspectors general |
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commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as officers |
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under Sections 242.102 and 243.052, Human Resources Code; |
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(30) officers appointed by the inspector general of |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, |
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Government Code; |
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(31) investigators commissioned by the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations |
|
Code; |
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(32) commission investigators commissioned by the |
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Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061 [1702.061(f)], |
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Occupations Code; |
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(33) the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or |
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investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under |
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Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code; |
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(34) officers commissioned by the State Board of |
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Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject |
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to the limitations imposed by that section; |
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(35) investigators commissioned by the Texas Juvenile |
|
Justice Department as officers under Section 221.011, Human |
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Resources Code; and |
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(36) the fire marshal and any related officers, |
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inspectors, or investigators commissioned by a county under |
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Subchapter B, Chapter 352, Local Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. Section 4, Article 18.20, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 4. OFFENSES FOR WHICH INTERCEPTIONS MAY BE |
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AUTHORIZED. A judge of competent jurisdiction may issue an order |
|
authorizing interception of wire, oral, or electronic |
|
communications only if the prosecutor applying for the order shows |
|
probable cause to believe that the interception will provide |
|
evidence of the commission of: |
|
(1) a felony under Section 19.02, 19.03, or 43.26, |
|
Penal Code; |
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(2) a felony under: |
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(A) Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, other |
|
than felony possession of marihuana; |
|
(B) Section 485.032, Health and Safety Code; or |
|
(C) Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code; |
|
(3) an offense under Section 20.03 or 20.04, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(4) an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code; |
|
(5) an offense under Chapter 34, Penal Code, if the |
|
criminal activity giving rise to the proceeds involves the |
|
commission of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, or an offense |
|
under federal law or the laws of another state containing elements |
|
that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under |
|
Title 5; |
|
(6) an offense under Section 38.11, Penal Code; [or] |
|
(7) an offense under Section 43.04 or 43.05, Penal |
|
Code; or |
|
(8) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit |
|
an offense listed in this section. |
|
SECTION 3. Article 59.01(2), Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
|
amended by Chapters 427 (S.B. 529) and 1357 (S.B. 1451), Acts of the |
|
83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, is reenacted and amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(2) "Contraband" means property of any nature, |
|
including real, personal, tangible, or intangible, that is: |
|
(A) used in the commission of: |
|
(i) any first or second degree felony under |
|
the Penal Code; |
|
(ii) any felony under Section 15.031(b), |
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20.05, 20.06, 21.11, 38.04, or Chapter 43, 20A, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, |
|
33A, or 35, Penal Code; |
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(iii) any felony under The Securities Act |
|
(Article 581-1 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes); or |
|
(iv) any offense under Chapter 49, Penal |
|
Code, that is punishable as a felony of the third degree or state |
|
jail felony, if the defendant has been previously convicted three |
|
times of an offense under that chapter; |
|
(B) used or intended to be used in the commission |
|
of: |
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(i) any felony under Chapter 481, Health |
|
and Safety Code (Texas Controlled Substances Act); |
|
(ii) any felony under Chapter 483, Health |
|
and Safety Code; |
|
(iii) a felony under Chapter 151, Finance |
|
Code; |
|
(iv) any felony under Chapter 34, Penal |
|
Code; |
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(v) a Class A misdemeanor under Subchapter |
|
B, Chapter 365, Health and Safety Code, if the defendant has been |
|
previously convicted twice of an offense under that subchapter; |
|
(vi) any felony under Chapter 32, Human |
|
Resources Code, or Chapter 31, 32, 35A, or 37, Penal Code, that |
|
involves the state Medicaid program; |
|
(vii) a Class B misdemeanor under Chapter |
|
522, Business & Commerce Code; |
|
(viii) a Class A misdemeanor under Section |
|
306.051, Business & Commerce Code; |
|
(ix) any offense under Section 42.10, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(x) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) |
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or 46.14, Penal Code; |
|
(xi) any offense under Chapter 71, Penal |
|
Code; |
|
(xii) any offense under Section 20.05 or |
|
20.06, Penal Code; or |
|
(xiii) [(xiv)] an offense under Section |
|
326.002, Business & Commerce Code; |
|
(C) the proceeds gained from the commission of a |
|
felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, a |
|
misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(vii), (ix), (x), or (xi) of |
|
this subdivision, or a crime of violence; |
|
(D) acquired with proceeds gained from the |
|
commission of a felony listed in Paragraph (A) or (B) of this |
|
subdivision, a misdemeanor listed in Paragraph (B)(vii), (ix), (x), |
|
or (xi) of this subdivision, or a crime of violence; |
|
(E) used to facilitate or intended to be used to |
|
facilitate the commission of a felony under Section 15.031 or |
|
43.25, Penal Code; or |
|
(F) used to facilitate or intended to be used to |
|
facilitate the commission of a felony under Section 20A.02 or |
|
Chapter 43, Penal Code. |
|
SECTION 4. Section 411.0043, Government Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0043. TECHNOLOGY POLICY; REVIEW. (a) The |
|
commission shall implement a policy requiring the department to use |
|
appropriate technological solutions to improve the department's |
|
ability to perform its functions. The policy must ensure that the |
|
public is able to interact with the department on the Internet. |
|
(b) The department shall periodically: |
|
(1) review the department's existing information |
|
technology system to determine whether: |
|
(A) the system's security should be upgraded; and |
|
(B) the system provides the department with the |
|
best ability to monitor and investigate criminal activity on the |
|
Internet; and |
|
(2) make any necessary improvements to the |
|
department's information technology system. |
|
SECTION 5. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 411.0101 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0101. ASSISTANCE TO CERTAIN LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT |
|
AGENCIES ALONG TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER. In addition to any other |
|
department operations in a county along the Texas-Mexico border, |
|
the department shall provide assistance with offenses punishable as |
|
a third degree felony or higher to a county or municipal law |
|
enforcement agency in a county along the Texas-Mexico border on a |
|
request from the law enforcement agency for assistance. The |
|
regional commander has discretion to allocate department resources |
|
as necessary to meet the department's objectives. |
|
|
|
SECTION 6. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 411.0163 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0163. HIRING OFFICERS WITH PREVIOUS LAW |
|
ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. Notwithstanding any other provision of |
|
law, the department may, at the time a commissioned officer is |
|
hired, elect to credit up to four years of experience as a peace |
|
officer in the state as years of service for the purpose of |
|
calculating the officer's salary under Schedule C. All officers are |
|
subject to the one-year probationary period under Section |
|
411.007(g) notwithstanding the officer's rank or salary |
|
classification. |
|
SECTION 7. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 411.0164 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0164. 50-HOUR WORK WEEK FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS |
|
ASSIGNED TO THE TEXAS-MEXICO BORDER REGION. Notwithstanding any |
|
other law, the department may implement a 10-hour work day and |
|
50-hour work week for commissioned officers of the department |
|
assigned to a department region that includes counties along the |
|
Texas-Mexico border. |
|
SECTION 8. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 411.0165 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0165. VETERAN APPLICANTS FOR TROOPER TRAINING. |
|
The department may accept a person applying to the department's |
|
trooper trainee academy if the person: |
|
(1) has served four or more years in the United States |
|
armed forces as a member of the military police or other security |
|
force and received an honorable discharge; and |
|
(2) meets all other department requirements for a |
|
commissioned officer. |
|
SECTION 9. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Sections 411.0208 and 411.0209 to read as |
|
follows: |
|
Sec. 411.0208. RESERVE OFFICER CORPS. (a) The commission |
|
may provide for the establishment of a reserve officer corps |
|
consisting of retired or previously commissioned officers of the |
|
department who retired or resigned in good standing. |
|
(b) The commission shall establish qualifications and |
|
standards of training for members of the reserve officer corps. |
|
(c) The commission may limit the size of the reserve officer |
|
corps. |
|
(d) The director shall appoint the members of the reserve |
|
officer corps. Members serve at the director's discretion. |
|
(e) The director may call the reserve officer corps into |
|
service at any time the director considers it necessary to have |
|
additional officers to assist the department in conducting |
|
background investigations, sex offender compliance checks, and |
|
other duties as determined necessary by the director. |
|
Sec. 411.0209. DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE AT INTERNATIONAL |
|
BORDER CHECKPOINTS. (a) To prevent the unlawful transfer of |
|
contraband from this state to the United Mexican States and other |
|
unlawful activity, the department shall conduct a study concerning |
|
the feasibility of providing to federal authorities and to local |
|
law enforcement authorities working with those federal authorities |
|
at international border checkpoints assistance in the interdiction |
|
of weapons, bulk currency, stolen vehicles, and other contraband, |
|
and of fugitives, being smuggled into the United Mexican States. |
|
The department shall also study whether the establishment of |
|
international border checkpoints will have a negative impact on |
|
toll revenues. |
|
(b) The department may share with the federal government the |
|
cost of staffing any international border checkpoints for the |
|
purposes described by this section. |
|
(c) The director and applicable local law enforcement |
|
authorities shall adopt procedures as necessary to administer this |
|
section. |
|
SECTION 10. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
|
amended by adding Section 411.054 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 411.054. CRIME STATISTICS REPORTING. (a) Each local |
|
law enforcement agency shall: |
|
(1) implement an incident-based reporting system that |
|
meets the reporting requirements of the National Incident-Based |
|
Reporting System of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program of the |
|
Federal Bureau of Investigation; and |
|
(2) use the system described by Subdivision (1) to |
|
submit to the department information and statistics concerning |
|
criminal offenses committed in the jurisdiction of the local law |
|
enforcement agency. |
|
(b) The department shall adopt rules to implement this |
|
section, including rules prescribing: |
|
(1) the form and manner of the submission of |
|
information and statistics; and |
|
(2) the frequency of reporting. |
|
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a local law enforcement |
|
agency that is not in compliance with this section and that receives |
|
grant funds from the department or the criminal justice division of |
|
the governor's office may only use those funds to come into |
|
compliance with this section. |
|
(d) A local law enforcement agency is not required to comply |
|
with this section before September 1, 2019. |
|
(e) Subsection (d) and this subsection expire September 1, |
|
2019. |
|
SECTION 11. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subchapter P to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER P. STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE |
|
Sec. 411.431. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
(1) "Border" means the border between this state and |
|
Mexico. |
|
(2) "Committee" means the State Law Enforcement |
|
Operations Oversight Committee established under this subchapter. |
|
Sec. 411.432. STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OPERATIONS OVERSIGHT |
|
COMMITTEE. (a) A State Law Enforcement Operations Oversight |
|
Committee is established to ensure transparency of state operations |
|
targeting transnational gang and cartel activity. |
|
(b) Members of the committee are appointed as follows: |
|
(1) five members of the senate appointed by the |
|
lieutenant governor; |
|
(2) five members of the house of representatives |
|
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
|
(3) one public member appointed by the governor. |
|
(c) A member of the committee serves at the will of the |
|
appointing official. |
|
(d) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
|
representatives shall appoint the chair of the committee on an |
|
alternating basis. The chair of the committee serves a one-year |
|
term that expires September 1 of each year. |
|
(e) A member of the committee is not entitled to receive |
|
compensation for service on the committee or reimbursement for |
|
expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as a member |
|
of the committee. |
|
(f) Chapter 2110 does not apply to the committee. |
|
Sec. 411.433. POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The committee has the |
|
powers and duties of a general investigating committee under |
|
Sections 301.020, 301.024, and 301.028, including access to |
|
confidential and law enforcement sensitive information. |
|
(b) The committee: |
|
(1) shall monitor and regularly report to the |
|
legislature on the progress of state operations targeting |
|
transnational gang and cartel activity, including monitoring |
|
conditions at the local level; |
|
(2) may request from the department, the Parks and |
|
Wildlife Department, and the Texas military forces reports and any |
|
other information related to border operations considered |
|
necessary by the committee; |
|
(3) if necessary, shall cooperate with local and |
|
federal officials to perform the committee's duties; and |
|
(4) shall meet monthly to carry out the committee's |
|
duties. |
|
(c) The committee may meet and consult with and advise local |
|
governments and federal authorities. |
|
Sec. 411.434. REPORTS TO COMMITTEE. (a) The department, |
|
the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the Texas military forces |
|
shall submit monthly reports to the committee: |
|
(1) on the status and progress of law enforcement |
|
operations, activities, programs, and investigations targeting |
|
transnational gang and cartel activity; |
|
(2) providing a detailed analysis of spending, |
|
including any incremental costs, for operations, activities, |
|
programs, and investigations targeting transnational gang and |
|
cartel activity, including: |
|
(A) salaries, equipment, and capital purchases; |
|
and |
|
(B) any contracts related to operations, |
|
activities, programs, and investigations targeting transnational |
|
gang and cartel activity, and for each contract: |
|
(i) the procurement process for the |
|
contract; |
|
(ii) to whom the contract was awarded; |
|
(iii) the amount of the contract; and |
|
(iv) if the contract was an emergency |
|
purchase under Section 2155.137, state that fact and the reason why |
|
it was considered an emergency; and |
|
(3) that include: |
|
(A) the impact of state operations, activities, |
|
programs, and investigations targeting transnational gang and |
|
cartel activity on the resources of local law enforcement |
|
authorities and the attrition of local law enforcement officers; |
|
and |
|
(B) recommendations on minimizing the disruption |
|
to local law enforcement authorities from state operations, |
|
activities, programs, and investigations targeting transnational |
|
gang and cartel activity. |
|
(b) The department, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and |
|
the Texas military forces shall: |
|
(1) brief the committee in person at the request of the |
|
committee; and |
|
(2) respond to any committee request for reports or |
|
other information under Section 411.433. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 772.007, Government Code, is reenacted |
|
to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 772.007. TEXAS ANTI-GANG GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
|
criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 shall |
|
administer a competitive grant program to support regional, |
|
multidisciplinary approaches to combat gang violence through the |
|
coordination of gang prevention, intervention, and suppression |
|
activities. |
|
(b) The grant program administered under this section must |
|
be directed toward regions of this state that have demonstrably |
|
high levels of gang violence. |
|
(c) The criminal justice division shall award grants to |
|
qualified applicants, as determined by the division, that |
|
demonstrate a comprehensive approach that balances gang |
|
prevention, intervention, and suppression activities to reduce |
|
gang violence. |
|
(d) The criminal justice division shall include in the |
|
biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed |
|
reporting of the results and performance of the grant program |
|
administered under this section. |
|
(e) The criminal justice division may use any revenue |
|
available for purposes of this section. |
|
SECTION 13. Chapter 362, Local Government Code, is amended |
|
by adding Section 362.005 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 362.005. TEXAS TRANSNATIONAL INTELLIGENCE CENTER. (a) |
|
The sheriff's department of a county with a population of at least |
|
700,000 but not more than 800,000 that borders the Texas-Mexico |
|
border and the police department of the municipality having the |
|
largest population in that county shall jointly establish and |
|
operate the Texas Transnational Intelligence Center as a central |
|
repository of real-time intelligence relating to criminal activity |
|
in the counties along the Texas-Mexico border. The Texas Department |
|
of Public Safety shall assist the county sheriff's department and |
|
the municipal police department in the establishment and operation |
|
of the center. |
|
(b) Each law enforcement agency in a county located along |
|
the Texas-Mexico border and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission |
|
and Parks and Wildlife Department shall report to the Texas |
|
Transnational Intelligence Center intelligence regarding criminal |
|
activity in the law enforcement agency's jurisdiction, including |
|
details on kidnappings, home invasions, and incidents of |
|
impersonation of law enforcement officers. |
|
(c) The intelligence in the Texas Transnational |
|
Intelligence Center shall be made available to each law enforcement |
|
agency in the state and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and |
|
Parks and Wildlife Department. |
|
(d) The Texas Transnational Intelligence Center shall |
|
comply with Section 421.085, Government Code, and the rules |
|
relating to that section. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 20.05, Penal Code, is amended to read as |
|
follows: |
|
Sec. 20.05. SMUGGLING OF PERSONS. (a) A person commits an |
|
offense if the person, with the intent to obtain a pecuniary |
|
benefit, knowingly: |
|
(1) [intentionally] uses a motor vehicle, aircraft, |
|
[or] watercraft, or other means of conveyance to transport an |
|
individual with the intent to: |
|
(A) [(1)] conceal the individual from a peace |
|
officer or special investigator; or |
|
(B) [(2)] flee from a person the actor knows is a |
|
peace officer or special investigator attempting to lawfully arrest |
|
or detain the actor; or |
|
(2) encourages or induces an individual to enter or |
|
remain in this country in violation of federal law by concealing, |
|
harboring, or shielding that person from detection. |
|
(b) An [Except as provided by Subsection (c), an] offense |
|
under this section is [a state jail felony.
|
|
[(c) An offense under this section is] a felony of the third |
|
degree, except that [if the actor commits] the offense is: |
|
(1) a felony of the second degree if: |
|
(A) the actor commits the offense [for pecuniary
|
|
benefit; or
|
|
[(2)] in a manner that creates a substantial |
|
likelihood that the smuggled [transported] individual will suffer |
|
serious bodily injury or death; or |
|
(B) the smuggled individual is a child younger |
|
than 18 years of age at the time of the offense; or |
|
(2) a felony of the first degree if: |
|
(A) it is shown on the trial of the offense that, |
|
as a direct result of the commission of the offense, the smuggled |
|
individual became a victim of sexual assault, as defined by Section |
|
22.011, or aggravated sexual assault, as defined by Section 22.021; |
|
or |
|
(B) the smuggled individual suffered serious |
|
bodily injury or death. |
|
(c) [(d)] It is an affirmative defense to prosecution, |
|
other than a prosecution to which Subsections (b)(1)(A) or (b)(2) |
|
apply, under this section that the actor is related to the smuggled |
|
[transported] individual within the second degree of consanguinity |
|
or, at the time of the offense, within the second degree of |
|
affinity. |
|
(d) [(e)] If conduct constituting an offense under this |
|
section also constitutes an offense under another section of this |
|
code, the actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both |
|
sections. |
|
SECTION 15. Chapter 20, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 20.06 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 20.06. CONTINUOUS SMUGGLING OF PERSONS. (a) A person |
|
commits an offense if the person engages two or more times in |
|
conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20.05. |
|
(b) If a jury is the trier of fact, members of the jury are |
|
not required to agree unanimously on which specific conduct engaged |
|
in by the defendant constituted an offense under Section 20.05 or on |
|
which exact date the defendant engaged in that conduct. The jury |
|
must agree unanimously that the defendant engaged two or more times |
|
in conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 20.05. |
|
(c) If the victim of an offense under Subsection (a) is the |
|
same victim as a victim of an offense under Section 20.05, a |
|
defendant may not be convicted of the offense under Section 20.05 in |
|
the same criminal action as the offense under Subsection (a), |
|
unless the offense under Section 20.05: |
|
(1) is charged in the alternative; |
|
(2) occurred outside the period in which the offense |
|
alleged under Subsection (a) was committed; or |
|
(3) is considered by the trier of fact to be a lesser |
|
included offense of the offense alleged under Subsection (a). |
|
(d) A defendant may not be charged with more than one count |
|
under Subsection (a) if all of the conduct that constitutes an |
|
offense under Section 20.05 is alleged to have been committed |
|
against the same victim. |
|
(e) Except as provided by Subsections (f) and (g), an |
|
offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. |
|
(f) An offense under this section is a felony of the first |
|
degree if: |
|
(1) the conduct constituting an offense under Section |
|
20.05 is conducted in a manner that creates a substantial |
|
likelihood that the smuggled individual will suffer serious bodily |
|
injury or death; or |
|
(2) the smuggled individual is a child younger than 18 |
|
years of age at the time of the offense. |
|
(g) An offense under this section is a felony of the first |
|
degree, punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice for life or for any term of not more than 99 years |
|
or less than 25 years, if: |
|
(1) it is shown on the trial of the offense that, as a |
|
direct result of the commission of the offense, the smuggled |
|
individual became a victim of sexual assault, as defined by Section |
|
22.011, or aggravated sexual assault, as defined by Section 22.021; |
|
or |
|
(2) the smuggled individual suffered serious bodily |
|
injury or death. |
|
SECTION 16. Sections 71.02(a) and (b), Penal Code, are |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) A person commits an offense if, with the intent to |
|
establish, maintain, or participate in a combination or in the |
|
profits of a combination or as a member of a criminal street gang, |
|
the person commits or conspires to commit one or more of the |
|
following: |
|
(1) murder, capital murder, arson, aggravated |
|
robbery, robbery, burglary, theft, aggravated kidnapping, |
|
kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated sexual assault, sexual |
|
assault, continuous sexual abuse of young child or children, |
|
solicitation of a minor, forgery, deadly conduct, assault |
|
punishable as a Class A misdemeanor, burglary of a motor vehicle, or |
|
unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; |
|
(2) any gambling offense punishable as a Class A |
|
misdemeanor; |
|
(3) promotion of prostitution, aggravated promotion |
|
of prostitution, or compelling prostitution; |
|
(4) unlawful manufacture, transportation, repair, or |
|
sale of firearms or prohibited weapons; |
|
(5) unlawful manufacture, delivery, dispensation, or |
|
distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug, or |
|
unlawful possession of a controlled substance or dangerous drug |
|
through forgery, fraud, misrepresentation, or deception; |
|
(5-a) causing the unlawful delivery, dispensation, or |
|
distribution of a controlled substance or dangerous drug in |
|
violation of Subtitle B, Title 3, Occupations Code; |
|
(6) any unlawful wholesale promotion or possession of |
|
any obscene material or obscene device with the intent to wholesale |
|
promote the same; |
|
(7) any offense under Subchapter B, Chapter 43, |
|
depicting or involving conduct by or directed toward a child |
|
younger than 18 years of age; |
|
(8) any felony offense under Chapter 32; |
|
(9) any offense under Chapter 36; |
|
(10) any offense under Chapter 34, 35, or 35A; |
|
(11) any offense under Section 37.11(a); |
|
(12) any offense under Chapter 20A; |
|
(13) any offense under Section 37.10; |
|
(14) any offense under Section 38.06, 38.07, 38.09, or |
|
38.11; |
|
(15) any offense under Section 42.10; |
|
(16) any offense under Section 46.06(a)(1) or 46.14; |
|
(17) any offense under Section 20.05 or 20.06; or |
|
(18) any offense classified as a felony under the Tax |
|
Code. |
|
(b) Except as provided in Subsections (c) and (d), an |
|
offense under this section is one category higher than the most |
|
serious offense listed in Subsection (a) that was committed, and if |
|
the most serious offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the offense is a |
|
state jail felony, except that the offense is a felony of the first |
|
degree punishable by imprisonment in the Texas Department of |
|
Criminal Justice for: |
|
(1) life without parole, if the most serious offense |
|
is an aggravated sexual assault and if at the time of that offense |
|
the defendant is 18 years of age or older and: |
|
(A) the victim of the offense is younger than six |
|
years of age; |
|
(B) the victim of the offense is younger than 14 |
|
years of age and the actor commits the offense in a manner described |
|
by Section 22.021(a)(2)(A); or |
|
(C) the victim of the offense is younger than 17 |
|
years of age and suffered serious bodily injury as a result of the |
|
offense; [or] |
|
(2) life or for any term of not more than 99 years or |
|
less than 30 years if the most serious offense is an offense under |
|
Section 20.06 that is punishable under Subsection (g) of that |
|
section; or |
|
(3) life or for any term of not more than 99 years or |
|
less than 15 years if the most serious offense is an offense |
|
punishable as a felony of the first degree, other than an offense |
|
described by Subdivision (1) or (2). |
|
SECTION 17. The change in law made by this Act to Section 4, |
|
Article 18.20, Code of Criminal Procedure, applies only to an |
|
application for an interception order filed on or after the |
|
effective date of this Act. An application for an interception |
|
order filed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the |
|
law in effect on the date the application was filed, and the former |
|
law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
|
SECTION 18. The Department of Public Safety shall adopt |
|
rules required under Section 411.054(b), Government Code, as added |
|
by this Act, not later than December 31, 2015. |
|
SECTION 19. As soon as possible after the effective date of |
|
this Act, but not later than September 1, 2015, the appointing |
|
officials described by Section 411.432, Government Code, as added |
|
by this Act, shall appoint the members of the State Law Enforcement |
|
Operations Oversight Committee established under that section. The |
|
speaker of the house of representatives shall make the first |
|
appointment to chair the committee as provided by that section. |
|
SECTION 20. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections |
|
20.05 and 71.02, Penal Code, apply only to an offense committed on |
|
or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before |
|
the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
|
the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued |
|
in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense |
|
was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element |
|
of the offense occurred before that date. |
|
SECTION 21. To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails |
|
over another Act of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, |
|
relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted |
|
codes. |
|
SECTION 22. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |