** REVISION **
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

COMMITTEE:    Homeland Security & Public Safety 

TIME & DATE:  10:00 AM, Tuesday, May 3, 2022 

PLACE:       E2.028 
CHAIR:       Rep. James White 

The Committee will meet to hear only invited testimony over the following Interim charges:

1. Monitor the agencies and programs under the Committee's jurisdiction and oversee the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 87th Legislature. Conduct active oversight of all associated rulemaking and other governmental actions taken to ensure the intended legislative outcome of all legislation, including the following:

·                HB 3712, relating to the training of and policies for peace officers; and

·                SB 24, relating to the procedures required before a law enforcement agency hires a peace officer.

2. Study incidents of law enforcement injuries and fatalities to determine those situations that pose the greatest risk to law enforcement. Make recommendations on best practices for increasing and preserving the safety and security of law enforcement officers, including those undercover.

3. Compare Texas' incident crime reporting requirements with those of other states and determine whether a standardized reporting requirement should be implemented for Texas law enforcement. Study opportunities to modernize and improve local and statewide data collection and dissemination throughout the criminal justice system to promote transparency and ensure uniform data collection processes.

4. The Committee will also hear invited testimony from the Texas Division of Emergency Management to gather information on severe weather response and recovery.

5. Additionally, the Committee will take invited testimony to gather and review information on the following Texas-Mexico border charges:

A. Monitor the emergency operations at the Texas-Mexico border, including whether existing emergency management resources are sufficient to address a non-natural emergency, including and especially one involving a large geographic area and multiple thousands of people.

B. Review the increase in law enforcement personnel along the Texas-Mexico border. Determine whether law enforcement has sufficient resources to address the current or any anticipated circumstances. Determine whether law enforcement needs specific or individualized training or education on matters involving border security, human trafficking or other scenarios where unaccompanied minors are involved.

C. Monitor the recent surge in border crossings and make recommendations for enhancing the safety and security of law enforcement, civilian populations on both sides of the Texas-Mexico border, and those entering the United States.

Invited testimony will include:

·                Department of Public Safety - Agenda items 1, 3, & 5

·                Texas Military Department - (Member agency of Emergency Management Council) - Agenda item 5

·                Texas Parks & Wildlife Department: Law Enforcement Division - (Member agency of Emergency Management Council) - Agenda item 5

·                Texas Division of Emergency Management - Agenda item 4 & 5

·                Texas Commission on Law Enforcement - Agenda items 1 & 2

·                Legislative Budget Board - Agenda item 5

·                Commission on State Emergency Communications - Agenda item 1

·                Various Law Enforcement, 2nd Amendment, and Public Safety Associations - Agenda items 1, 2, 3, & 5

Electronic public comments will be available for:

Monitor legislation, including HB 3712 and SB 24

Incidents of Law Enforcement Injuries & Fatalities

Incident Crime Reporting Requirements

Severe Weather Response and Recovery

Texas-Mexico Emergency Operations

Texas-Mexico Law Enforcement

Texas-Mexico Border Surge

For those persons who will be testifying, information for in-person witness registration, can be found here: https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx

A live video broadcast of this hearing will be available here: https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/

Instructions related to public access to the meeting location and health and safety protocols for attending this meeting are available here: https://house.texas.gov/committees/public-access-house-committee-meetings/

Texas residents who wish to electronically submit comments related to agenda items on this notice without testifying in person can do so until the hearing is adjourned by visiting: https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c420

**         See Committee Coordinator for previous versions         **
of this notice.

NOTICE OF ASSISTANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance, such as a sign language interpreter, are requested to contact Stacey Nicchio at (512) 463-0850, 72 hours prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.