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House Bill 12 |
House Author: Longoria et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-15 |
Senate Sponsor: Hinojosa et al. |
House Bill 12 amends the Government Code to codify the structure and duties of the currently existing Texas border prosecution unit and update policies and procedures relating to the unit. The bill requires the governor to establish the border prosecution unit within the criminal justice division of the governor's office to provide the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and members of the legislature with information regarding border crime. The bill requires the unit to advise the criminal justice division, serve as a clearinghouse for information related to border crime, and assist in developing training for law enforcement regarding border crime issues, including the investigation and prosecution of border crime. An attorney employed by a border prosecuting attorney as regional counsel is required, among other duties, to assist the border prosecuting attorneys and other regional counsel as needed in prosecuting border crime cases and to serve as a liaison between the unit and other criminal justice entities, including the Department of Public Safety and federal, state, and local prosecutors and law enforcement agencies located in the border region.