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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to measures to ensure the safety and welfare of the border |
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region of this state, including protection from ongoing criminal |
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activity, and public health threats and the establishment of the |
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Border Protection Unit; creating a criminal offense; creating a |
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civil penalty. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. BORDER PROTECTION UNIT |
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SECTION 1.01. 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 |
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deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued |
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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 |
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who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter |
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1701, Occupations Code; |
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(4) rangers, officers, and members of the reserve |
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officer corps commissioned by: |
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(A) the Public Safety Commission; and |
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(B) either: |
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(i) the Director of the Department of |
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Public Safety; or |
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(ii) the unit chief of the Border |
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Protection Unit; |
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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) officers commissioned under Chapter 23, |
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Transportation Code; |
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(12) municipal park and recreational patrolmen and |
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security officers; |
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(13) security officers and investigators commissioned |
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as peace officers by the comptroller; |
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(14) officers commissioned by a water control and |
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improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code; |
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(15) officers commissioned by a board of trustees |
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under Chapter 54, Transportation Code; |
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(16) investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical |
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Board; |
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(17) 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 |
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County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District |
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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 |
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Laws Code; |
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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, |
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Special District Local Laws Code; and |
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(D) the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock |
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County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section |
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1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code; |
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(18) county park rangers commissioned under |
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Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code; |
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(19) investigators employed by the Texas Racing |
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Commission; |
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(20) officers commissioned under Chapter 554, |
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Occupations Code; |
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(21) 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 |
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under Section 452.110, Transportation Code; |
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(22) investigators commissioned by the attorney |
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general under Section 402.009, Government Code; |
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(23) security officers and investigators commissioned |
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as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code; |
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(24) officers appointed by an appellate court under |
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Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code; |
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(25) officers commissioned by the state fire marshal |
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under Chapter 417, Government Code; |
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(26) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner |
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of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code; |
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(27) 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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(28) 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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(29) investigators commissioned by the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations |
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Code; |
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(30) commission investigators commissioned by the |
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Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061, Occupations |
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Code; |
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(31) 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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(32) 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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(33) investigators commissioned by the Texas Juvenile |
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Justice Department as officers under Section 221.011, Human |
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Resources Code; and |
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(34) 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 1.02. Section 411.002(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas is |
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an agency of the state to enforce the laws protecting the public |
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safety, [and] provide for the prevention and detection of crime, |
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and defend and secure the state's air, maritime, and land borders. |
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The department is composed of the Texas Rangers, the Texas Highway |
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Patrol, the Border Protection Unit, the administrative division, |
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and other divisions that the commission considers necessary. |
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SECTION 1.03. Section 411.004, Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.004. DUTIES AND POWERS OF COMMISSION. The |
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commission shall: |
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(1) formulate plans and policies for: |
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(A) enforcement of state criminal, traffic, and |
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safety laws; |
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(B) prevention of crime; |
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(C) detection and apprehension of persons who |
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violate laws; [and] |
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(D) education of citizens of this state in the |
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promotion of public safety and the observance of law; and |
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(E) defense and security of this state's air, |
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maritime, and land borders; |
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(2) organize the department and supervise its |
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operation; |
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(3) adopt rules considered necessary for carrying out |
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the department's work; |
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(4) maintain records of all proceedings and official |
|
orders; and |
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(5) biennially submit a report of its work to the |
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governor and legislature, including the commission's and director's |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 1.04. Section 411.006(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Subject to Section 411.555, the [The] director shall: |
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(1) be directly responsible to the commission for the |
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conduct of and act as executive director of the Texas Highway |
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Patrol, the Texas Rangers, and other administrative divisions and |
|
departments assigned by the commission, other than the Border |
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Protection Unit [the department's affairs]; |
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(2) [act as executive director of the department; |
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[(3)] act with the commission in an advisory capacity, |
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without vote; |
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(3) [(4)] adopt rules, subject to commission |
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approval, considered necessary for the control of the department; |
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(4) [(5)] issue commissions as law enforcement |
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officers, under the commission's direction, to all members of the |
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Texas Rangers and the Texas Highway Patrol and to other officers of |
|
the department; |
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(5) [(6)] appoint, with the advice and consent of the |
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commission, the head of a division or bureau provided for by this |
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chapter; |
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(6) [(7)] quarterly, annually, and biennially submit |
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to the commission detailed reports of the operation of the |
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department, including statements of its expenditures; and |
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(7) [(8)] prepare, swear to, submit to the governor, |
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and file in the department's records a quarterly statement |
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containing an itemized list of all money received and its source and |
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all money spent and the purposes for which it was spent. |
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SECTION 1.05. Section 411.007(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the director |
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may appoint, promote, reduce, suspend, or discharge any officer or |
|
employee of the department, other than an officer or employee of the |
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Border Protection Unit. |
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SECTION 1.06. Section 411.017(a), Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if, without the director's |
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authorization, the person: |
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(1) manufactures, sells, or possesses a badge, |
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identification card, or other item bearing a department insignia or |
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an insignia deceptively similar to the department's; |
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(2) makes a copy or likeness of a badge, |
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identification card, or department insignia, with intent to use or |
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allow another to use the copy or likeness to produce an item bearing |
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the department insignia or an insignia deceptively similar to the |
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department's; or |
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(3) uses the term "Texas Department of Public Safety," |
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"Department of Public Safety," "Texas Ranger," [or] "Texas Highway |
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Patrol," or "Border Protection Unit" in connection with an object, |
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with the intent to create the appearance that the object belongs to |
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or is being used by the department. |
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SECTION 1.07. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter S to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER S. BORDER PROTECTION UNIT |
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Sec. 411.551. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Unit" means the Border Protection Unit. |
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(2) "Unit chief" means the person appointed under |
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Section 411.554 as the unit chief. |
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Sec. 411.552. BORDER PROTECTION UNIT; TERM OF |
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AUTHORIZATION. (a) The unit is a division under the commission |
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consisting of the number of commissioned and noncommissioned |
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officers and other employees authorized by the legislature. |
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(b) The unit is subject to appropriations by the legislature |
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and, unless continued in existence by the legislature, is abolished |
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December 31, 2030. |
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(c) This subchapter expires December 31, 2030. |
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Sec. 411.553. HEADQUARTERS. The unit must be headquartered |
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in the border region. |
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Sec. 411.554. UNIT CHIEF. (a) The governor shall appoint a |
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United States citizen to serve as the unit chief of the Border |
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Protection Unit. The unit chief serves until removed by the |
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governor. |
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(b) The unit chief may appoint, with the advice and consent |
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of the commission, deputy unit chiefs and assistant unit chiefs who |
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shall perform the duties that the unit chief designates. Deputy |
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unit chiefs and assistant unit chiefs serve until removed by the |
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unit chief. |
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(c) The unit chief, deputy unit chiefs, and assistant unit |
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chiefs are entitled to annual salaries as provided by the |
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legislature. |
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Sec. 411.555. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF UNIT AND UNIT |
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CHIEF. (a) The unit chief shall: |
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(1) be directly responsible to the commission for all |
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conduct of the unit, but may be removed only by the governor under |
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Section 411.554; |
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(2) act as the executive director of the unit; |
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(3) act with the commission in an advisory capacity, |
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without vote; |
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(4) adopt rules, subject to commission approval, |
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considered necessary for the control and general administration of |
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the unit, including rules governing the procurement of facilities |
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and equipment for the unit and the training and working conditions |
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for unit personnel; |
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(5) issue commissions as law enforcement officers, |
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under the commission's direction, to members of the unit; |
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(6) create as necessary, with the advice and consent |
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of the commission, operational or administrative divisions within |
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the unit and appoint heads of those divisions; |
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(7) employ as necessary commissioned and |
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noncommissioned officers and other employees to perform unit |
|
operations and functions; |
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(8) quarterly, annually, and biennially submit to the |
|
commission detailed reports of the operation of the unit, including |
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statements of its expenditures; and |
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(9) prepare, swear to, submit to the governor, and |
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file in the unit's records a quarterly statement containing an |
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itemized list of all money received and its source and all money |
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spent and the purposes for which it was spent. |
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(b) The unit chief or unit chief's designee shall provide to |
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members of the commission and to employees of the unit, as often as |
|
necessary, information regarding the requirements for office or |
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employment under this chapter, including information regarding a |
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person's responsibilities under applicable law relating to |
|
standards of conduct for state officers or employees. |
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(c) Subject to Subsection (d), the following provisions |
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apply to the unit chief with respect to the unit in the same manner |
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as the provisions apply to the director with respect to the |
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department or, as applicable, apply to the unit when acting at the |
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direction of the unit chief in the same manner as the provisions |
|
apply to the department when acting at the direction of the |
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director: |
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(1) Section 411.007; |
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(2) Section 411.0071; |
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(3) Section 411.0075; |
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(4) Section 411.0079; |
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(5) Section 411.009; |
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(6) Section 411.0095; |
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(7) Section 411.0097, as added by Section 3, Chapter |
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556 (H.B. 1239), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2005; |
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(8) Section 411.0097, as added by Section 1, Chapter |
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693 (S.B. 293), Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular Session, |
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2005; |
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(9) Section 411.0098; |
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(10) Section 411.013(b); |
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(11) Section 411.0131; |
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(12) Section 411.0132; |
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(13) Section 411.0141(e); |
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(14) Section 411.015; |
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(15) Section 411.016; |
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(16) Section 411.0161; |
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(17) Section 411.0162; |
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(18) Section 411.0163; |
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(19) Section 411.0164; |
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(20) Section 411.017; |
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(21) Section 411.018; |
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(22) Sections 411.0207(c)(1)-(5); |
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(23) Sections 411.0208(d) and (e); |
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(24) Section 411.0209; |
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(25) Section 411.02095; |
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(26) Section 411.0865; |
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(27) Section 411.087(e); |
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(28) Section 411.0891; and |
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(29) Section 411.154. |
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(d) The director may not exercise any operational or |
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administrative control over the unit chief or the unit. The unit |
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chief may not exercise any operational or administrative control |
|
over the director or the department, other than the unit. |
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(e) The unit is a criminal justice agency for purposes of |
|
this chapter. |
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(f) The unit: |
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(1) may collect, preserve, ship, and analyze a DNA |
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sample for the DNA database subject to the rules adopted under |
|
Section 411.146(c)(1); and |
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(2) is entitled to access or use a DNA sample or record |
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subject to the rules adopted under Section 411.147(b). |
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(g) The unit is a law enforcement agency for purposes of |
|
Section 411.1471(b). |
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(h) The unit may assist local law enforcement with the |
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investigation of crime. |
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Sec. 411.556. OFFICE OF AUDIT AND REVIEW FOR UNIT. The |
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governor shall establish the office of audit and review within the |
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unit and appoint the director of the office to perform the duties |
|
under Subchapter I with respect to the unit. The director of the |
|
office of audit and review of the unit shall serve until removed by |
|
the governor. |
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Sec. 411.557. INSPECTOR GENERAL FOR UNIT. (a) The governor |
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shall establish the office of the inspector general within the unit |
|
and appoint the inspector general of the unit who shall perform with |
|
respect to the unit the duties of Subchapter I-1 or as may be |
|
provided by other law. The inspector general of the unit shall |
|
serve until removed by the governor. |
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(b) The inspector general of the unit is responsible for: |
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(1) preparing and delivering assessments concerning |
|
the administration of the unit to the governor, the legislature, |
|
and the unit chief; |
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(2) acting to prevent and detect serious breaches of |
|
unit policy, fraud, and abuse of office, including any acts of |
|
criminal conduct within the unit; and |
|
(3) independently and objectively reviewing, |
|
investigating, delegating, and overseeing the investigation of: |
|
(A) conduct described by Subdivision (2); |
|
(B) criminal activity occurring within the unit; |
|
(C) allegations of wrongdoing by unit employees; |
|
(D) crimes committed on unit property; and |
|
(E) serious breaches of unit policy. |
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Sec. 411.558. OFFICERS; OTHER EMPLOYEES. (a) The unit |
|
chief may employ commissioned or noncommissioned officers meeting |
|
the qualifications described by Section 411.561 to perform the |
|
duties of the unit. Those officers are entitled to compensation as |
|
provided by the legislature and must be recruited and trained |
|
within the border region to the extent practicable. |
|
(b) The unit chief may employ individuals who are not |
|
officers as necessary to carry out the duties of the unit. |
|
(c) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the unit |
|
chief may appoint, promote, reduce, suspend, or discharge any |
|
officer or employee of the unit. |
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Sec. 411.559. AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. (a) A commissioned |
|
officer of the unit is governed by the law regulating and defining |
|
the powers and duties of sheriffs performing similar duties, except |
|
that the officer may make arrests and execute processes in a |
|
criminal case in any county. |
|
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), a commissioned or |
|
noncommissioned officer of the unit may, to the extent consistent |
|
with the United States and Texas Constitutions, arrest, apprehend, |
|
or detain persons crossing the Texas-Mexico border unlawfully, and |
|
deter persons attempting to cross the border unlawfully, including |
|
with the use of non-deadly crowd control measures. |
|
(c) A noncommissioned officer may not exercise the |
|
authority provided by Subsection (b) unless specifically |
|
authorized by the commission and the governor and unless the |
|
officer has been provided training approved by the commission and |
|
the governor. A noncommissioned officer may exercise the arrest |
|
authority provided by Subsection (b) only if the authority is |
|
exercised in a county: |
|
(1) contiguous with the Texas-Mexico border; or |
|
(2) adjoining a county described by Subdivision (1). |
|
(d) The commission shall develop or recognize a training |
|
program required by Subsection (c). |
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Sec. 411.560. DEFENSES TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY. |
|
Notwithstanding any other law, any defense or affirmative defense |
|
that applies to a peace officer in a civil or criminal action |
|
applies to the unit chief and the officers and other employees of |
|
the unit in a civil or criminal action brought against the unit |
|
chief or an officer or other employee of the unit arising from |
|
conduct engaged in while discharging the duties of the unit. |
|
Sec. 411.561. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS. (a) To be a |
|
commissioned officer of the unit, a person must hold a peace officer |
|
license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and meet any |
|
other qualifications set by the commission. |
|
(b) To be a noncommissioned officer of the unit, a person |
|
must be a United States citizen and meet any other qualifications |
|
set by the commission. |
|
(c) A noncommissioned officer shall operate under the |
|
accountability requirements and standards of professional conduct |
|
set forth by the commission. |
|
(d) The unit is an equal employment opportunity employer and |
|
may not discriminate against or give preferential treatment to any |
|
employee or job applicant on account of the individual's race, |
|
color, sex, national origin, or religion. |
|
Sec. 411.562. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT; TRAINING; TRANSFER |
|
FROM DEPARTMENT. (a) The unit shall acquire equipment and |
|
facilities and conduct training necessary to fulfill the |
|
operational, intelligence, communication, logistics, and |
|
administrative duties provided by this chapter and the unit chief. |
|
(b) The commission shall transfer existing personnel, |
|
equipment, and facilities to the unit from within the department as |
|
determined necessary by the commission or the governor, in the |
|
commission's or governor's discretion, while maintaining |
|
accountability and adequate support for all officers and activities |
|
within the commission's responsibility. |
|
Sec. 411.563. CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL |
|
BARRIERS. (a) The unit shall oversee the construction and |
|
maintenance of walls, fences, and other physical barriers along the |
|
Texas-Mexico border in order to enhance the safety and security of |
|
citizens of this state. |
|
(b) The unit chief, or the unit chief's designee, is |
|
authorized to negotiate and acquire the necessary rights-of-way, |
|
leases, permissions, materials, and services needed to erect and |
|
maintain physical barriers. |
|
(c) The unit may use funds appropriated by the legislature, |
|
other government funds, or donations from United States citizens |
|
and domestic entities. |
|
(d) The commission may delegate authority granted under |
|
this section to another state agency. |
|
Sec. 411.564. OPERATIONAL PLAN TO COORDINATE BORDER |
|
SECURITY. (a) The unit shall develop and recommend to the governor |
|
and report to the legislature a strategic plan that establishes the |
|
framework for the budget and operations of the unit, including |
|
homeland security strategies and the assistance of other state and |
|
local entities. The unit shall annually report to the governor and |
|
the legislature on the implementation of the strategic plan. |
|
(b) The unit shall include in the strategic plan goals, |
|
objectives, and performance measures that involve collaboration |
|
with other state agencies and local entities. |
|
(c) The unit shall create plans and conduct operations |
|
consistent with the strategic plan. |
|
(d) The operational plan under this section must include an |
|
evaluation of 8 U.S.C. Section 1325(a) and other federal laws |
|
relating to the requirement that border crossings occur only at |
|
designated ports of entry. |
|
Sec. 411.565. SEVERABILITY. (a) Mindful of Leavitt v. Jane |
|
L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the , 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the |
|
severability of a state statute the Supreme Court of the United |
|
States held that an explicit statement of legislative intent is |
|
controlling, it is the intent of the legislature that every |
|
provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word |
|
in this subchapter, and every application of the provisions in this |
|
subchapter to every person, group of persons, or circumstances, are |
|
severable from each other. |
|
(b) If any application of any provision in this subchapter |
|
to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a |
|
court to be invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, for any reason |
|
whatsoever, then the remaining applications of that provision to |
|
all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and preserved, |
|
and shall remain in effect. All constitutionally valid |
|
applications of the provisions in this subchapter shall be severed |
|
from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, preempted, |
|
or unconstitutional, because it is the legislature's intent and |
|
priority that every single valid application of every statutory |
|
provision be allowed to stand alone. |
|
(c) The legislature further declares that it would have |
|
enacted this subchapter, and each provision, section, subsection, |
|
sentence, clause, phrase, or word, and all constitutional |
|
applications of the provisions of this subchapter, irrespective of |
|
the fact that any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, |
|
phrase, or word, or applications of this subchapter were to be |
|
declared invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional. |
|
(d) If any provision of this subchapter is found by any |
|
court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that |
|
provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems |
|
shall be severed and remain in force, consistent with the |
|
severability requirements of Subsections (a), (b), and (c). |
|
(e) No court may decline to enforce the severability |
|
requirements of Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) on the ground |
|
that severance would "rewrite" the statute or involve the court in |
|
legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to |
|
enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory |
|
provision is never rewriting a statute or engaging in legislative |
|
or lawmaking activity, as the statute continues to contain the same |
|
words as before the court's decision. A judicial injunction or |
|
declaration of unconstitutionality: |
|
(1) is nothing more than an edict prohibiting |
|
enforcement of the disputed statute against the named parties to |
|
that lawsuit, which may subsequently be vacated by a later court if |
|
that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the |
|
Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution or federal |
|
law; |
|
(2) is not a formal amendment of the language in a |
|
statute; and |
|
(3) no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the |
|
executive not to enforce a duly enacted statute in a limited and |
|
defined set of circumstances. |
|
(f) If any state or federal court disregards any of the |
|
severability requirements in Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), or |
|
(e), and declares or finds any provision of this subchapter |
|
facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, when there are |
|
discrete applications of that provision that can be enforced |
|
against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without |
|
violating federal law or the federal or state constitutions, then |
|
that provision shall be interpreted, as a matter of state law, as if |
|
the legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, |
|
group of persons, or circumstances for which the provision's |
|
application will not violate federal law or the federal or state |
|
constitutions, and every court shall adopt this saving construction |
|
of that provision until the court ruling that pronounced the |
|
provision facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional is |
|
vacated or overruled. |
|
SECTION 1.08. As soon as practicable after the effective |
|
date of this Act, the governor shall appoint the unit chief as |
|
prescribed by Section 411.554, Government Code, as added by this |
|
Act. |
|
ARTICLE 2. TRESPASS: CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES |
|
SECTION 2.01. Article 17.44, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
|
(b-1) A magistrate shall require as a condition of release |
|
on bond for a defendant arrested for an offense under Section 30.08, |
|
Penal Code, that the defendant submit to electronic monitoring |
|
unless the magistrate finds that the defendant is not a flight risk. |
|
SECTION 2.02. Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Subchapter D to read as follows: |
|
SUBCHAPTER D. ENFORCEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL |
|
Sec. 752.101. CIVIL PENALTY: TRESPASS WHILE ENTERING THIS |
|
STATE. (a) A person who engages in conduct constituting an offense |
|
under Section 30.08, Penal Code, is liable to this state for a civil |
|
penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each occurrence of |
|
the conduct. |
|
(b) The attorney general may bring an action to collect the |
|
civil penalty and may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred in |
|
bringing the action. |
|
SECTION 2.03. Chapter 30, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
|
Section 30.08 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 30.08. TRESPASS WHILE ENTERING THIS STATE. (a) A |
|
person commits an offense if the person knowingly enters the |
|
property of another, without the effective consent of the owner, |
|
while knowingly entering this state from any neighboring |
|
jurisdiction, regardless of the person's immigration status. |
|
(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
|
degree. |
|
(c) If conduct that constitutes an offense under this |
|
section also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor |
|
may be prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
|
ARTICLE 3. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY |
|
SECTION 3.01. Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code, |
|
is amended by adding Chapter 81B to read as follows: |
|
CHAPTER 81B. SUSPENSION OF ENTRY OF PERSONS FROM DESIGNATED PLACES |
|
TO PREVENT SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES |
|
Sec. 81B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
|
(1) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
|
disease. |
|
(2) "Federally declared public health emergency" |
|
means: |
|
(A) a public health emergency declared by the |
|
United States secretary of health and human services under 42 |
|
U.S.C. Section 247d; or |
|
(B) an emergency or disaster declared, including |
|
under a renewal of the declaration, by the president of the United |
|
States in relation to a public health emergency described by |
|
Paragraph (A) under: |
|
(i) the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. |
|
Section 1601 et seq.); or |
|
(ii) the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief |
|
and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.). |
|
(3) "Person" means any individual other than one |
|
described by: |
|
(A) the first sentence of Section 1 of the |
|
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution; or |
|
(B) 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(20). |
|
(4) "Port of entry" means a port of entry described by |
|
Part 101, Title 19, Code of Federal Regulations (19 C.F.R. part |
|
101), or 22 C.F.R. Section 40.1. |
|
Sec. 81B.002. SUSPENSION OF ENTRY. (a) To the extent |
|
consistent with the United States Constitution, all persons |
|
entering this state by land from another country must pass through a |
|
port of entry for appropriate medical review during: |
|
(1) the pendency of any federally declared public |
|
health emergency for COVID-19; |
|
(2) any time that a federal agency has in place any |
|
vaccination requirement for any person lawfully residing in the |
|
United States, including government contractors or health care |
|
workers, for the purposes of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in |
|
the United States; or |
|
(3) any time the United States Department of State has |
|
in place any travel warning related to COVID-19 for any country from |
|
which citizens have unlawfully entered the United States during the |
|
most recent year for which there is available data. |
|
(b) A person who enters this state from a foreign country |
|
other than in accordance with Subsection (a), to the extent |
|
consistent with the United States Constitution, shall be removed to |
|
the country from which they entered the United States, their |
|
country of origin, or another location as practicable, as rapidly |
|
as possible with as little time spent in congregate settings as |
|
practicable under the circumstances. |
|
Sec. 81B.003. SEVERABILITY. (a) Mindful of Leavitt v. Jane |
|
L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the , 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the |
|
severability of a state statute the Supreme Court of the United |
|
States held that an explicit statement of legislative intent is |
|
controlling, it is the intent of the legislature that every |
|
provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word |
|
in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this |
|
chapter to every person, group of persons, or circumstances, are |
|
severable from each other. |
|
(b) If any application of any provision in this chapter to |
|
any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court |
|
to be invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, for any reason |
|
whatsoever, then the remaining applications of that provision to |
|
all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and preserved, |
|
and shall remain in effect. All constitutionally valid |
|
applications of the provisions in this chapter shall be severed |
|
from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, preempted, |
|
or unconstitutional, because it is the legislature's intent and |
|
priority that every single valid application of every statutory |
|
provision be allowed to stand alone. |
|
(c) The legislature further declares that it would have |
|
enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subsection, |
|
sentence, clause, phrase, or word, and all constitutional |
|
applications of the provisions of this chapter, irrespective of the |
|
fact that any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, |
|
phrase, or word, or applications of this chapter were to be declared |
|
invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional. |
|
(d) If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to |
|
be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that |
|
provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems |
|
shall be severed and remain in force, consistent with the |
|
severability requirements of Subsections (a), (b), and (c). |
|
(e) No court may decline to enforce the severability |
|
requirements of Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) on the ground |
|
that severance would "rewrite" the statute or involve the court in |
|
legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to |
|
enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory |
|
provision is never rewriting a statute or engaging in legislative |
|
or lawmaking activity, as the statute continues to contain the same |
|
words as before the court's decision. A judicial injunction or |
|
declaration of unconstitutionality: |
|
(1) is nothing more than an edict prohibiting |
|
enforcement of the disputed statute against the named parties to |
|
that lawsuit, which may subsequently be vacated by a later court if |
|
that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the |
|
Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution or federal |
|
law; |
|
(2) is not a formal amendment of the language in a |
|
statute; and |
|
(3) no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the |
|
executive not to enforce a duly enacted statute in a limited and |
|
defined set of circumstances. |
|
(f) If any state or federal court disregards any of the |
|
severability requirements in Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), or |
|
(e), and declares or finds any provision of this chapter facially |
|
invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, when there are discrete |
|
applications of that provision that can be enforced against a |
|
person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating |
|
federal law or the federal or state constitutions, then that |
|
provision shall be interpreted, as a matter of state law, as if the |
|
legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group |
|
of persons, or circumstances for which the provision's application |
|
will not violate federal law or the federal or state constitutions, |
|
and every court shall adopt this saving construction of that |
|
provision until the court ruling that pronounced the provision |
|
facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional is vacated or |
|
overruled. |
|
ARTICLE 4. SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 4.01. (a) If any provision of this Act or its |
|
application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the |
|
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this |
|
Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or |
|
application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared |
|
to be severable. |
|
(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not affect another |
|
severability provision contained in this Act. |
|
SECTION 4.02. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
|
receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
|
house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
|
If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
|
effect, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of |
|
the legislative session. |