1-1 By: Ogden S.B. No. 194 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 19, 1999; January 28, 1999, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; 1-4 April 19, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; April 19, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of a complex crime unit within the 1-9 Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subchapter I to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER I. COMPLEX CRIME UNIT 1-14 Sec. 411.251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: 1-15 (1) "Attorney representing the state" means a district 1-16 attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney performing 1-17 the duties of a district attorney. 1-18 (2) "Complex crime" means a criminal offense: 1-19 (A) in which funds or property of any department 1-20 or agency of the state are stolen or misapplied; and 1-21 (B) the investigation of which requires a level 1-22 of expertise in disciplines such as accounting, computer 1-23 technology, or law that is not readily available to local law 1-24 enforcement agencies. 1-25 Sec. 411.252. COMPLEX CRIME UNIT. (a) The complex crime 1-26 unit is an investigatory unit within the department. 1-27 (b) The director shall employ commissioned peace officers 1-28 and noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the 1-29 unit. 1-30 (c) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-31 peace officer must have not less than four years of experience as a 1-32 peace officer and: 1-33 (1) a degree from an accredited institution of higher 1-34 education in law, accounting, or computer science; or 1-35 (2) two or more years of experience in the 1-36 investigation of complex criminal offenses or similar offenses. 1-37 (d) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-38 noncommissioned employee must meet the experience, training, and 1-39 educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for 1-40 investigating or assisting in the investigation of a complex crime. 1-41 Sec. 411.253. ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST. (a) On the request of 1-42 an attorney representing the state and with the approval of the 1-43 director, the complex crime unit of the department may assist local 1-44 law enforcement in the investigation of crime. 1-45 (b) On the request of the governor and with the approval of 1-46 the director, the complex crime unit of the department may 1-47 investigate a crime involving harm to the interests of a state 1-48 agency. 1-49 Sec. 411.254. COOPERATION. (a) The director and the state 1-50 auditor shall cooperate in investigating complex crimes and 1-51 enforcing and administering laws involving complex crimes. 1-52 (b) The director and the state auditor shall adopt a 1-53 memorandum of understanding that establishes the responsibilities 1-54 of the department and the office of the state auditor in 1-55 investigating, enforcing, or administering laws involving complex 1-56 crimes. 1-57 (c) The memorandum of understanding must facilitate the 1-58 sharing of information involving complex crimes and permit the 1-59 office of the state auditor access to the criminal justice 1-60 information necessary for the auditor to carry out the duties 1-61 described by the memorandum. 1-62 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-63 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-64 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 2-4 * * * * *