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.
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