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House Bill 1239 |
House Author: Hodge et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-05 |
Senate Sponsor: Hinojosa |
House Bill 1239 amends provisions of the Local Government Code and the Government Code relating to multicounty drug task forces. The bill sets out the definition and composition of a multicounty drug task force and provides that a task force may be established and operated only after the Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirms a strategic need for the task force and the composition of the task force. The bill requires a task force and any county or municipality participating in the task force to comply with policies and procedures developed by DPS. House Bill 1239 also authorizes DPS to exercise the authority necessary to ensure compliance with the policies and procedures. The bill requires DPS to perform certain evaluations of a task force and to submit semiannual reports on the evaluations to the governor's office and the Legislative Budget Board. The bill also requires any task force not established in accordance with the above prescribed provisions or that fails to comply with DPS policies and procedures to forward all proceeds received by the task force from forfeiture of contraband to the comptroller of public accounts for deposit in the general revenue fund and authorizes the attorney general to enforce the requirement to forward such proceeds.