AN ACT 1-1 relating to the creation of a statewide law enforcement gang 1-2 resource system. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 61, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-5 amended by adding Article 61.08 to read as follows: 1-6 Art. 61.08. GANG RESOURCE SYSTEM. (a) The office of the 1-7 attorney general shall establish an electronic gang resource system 1-8 to provide criminal justice agencies and juvenile justice agencies 1-9 with information about criminal street gangs in the state. The 1-10 system may include the following information with regard to any 1-11 gang: 1-12 (1) gang name; 1-13 (2) gang identifiers, such as colors used, tattoos, 1-14 and clothing preferences; 1-15 (3) criminal activities; 1-16 (4) migration trends; 1-17 (5) recruitment activities; and 1-18 (6) a local law enforcement contact. 1-19 (b) Upon request by the office of the attorney general, 1-20 criminal justice agencies and juvenile justice agencies shall make 1-21 a reasonable attempt to provide gang information to the office of 1-22 the attorney general for the purpose of maintaining an updated, 1-23 comprehensive gang resource system. 1-24 (c) The office of the attorney general shall cooperate with 2-1 criminal justice agencies and juvenile justice agencies in 2-2 collecting and maintaining the accuracy of the information included 2-3 in the gang resource system. 2-4 (d) Information relating to the identity of a specific 2-5 offender or alleged offender may not be maintained in the gang 2-6 resource system. 2-7 (e) Information in the gang resource system may be used in 2-8 investigating gang-related crimes but may be included in affidavits 2-9 or subpoenas or used in connection with any other legal or judicial 2-10 proceeding only if the information from the system is corroborated 2-11 by information not provided or maintained in the system. 2-12 (f) Access to the gang resource system shall be limited to 2-13 criminal justice agency personnel and juvenile justice agency 2-14 personnel. 2-15 (g) Information in the gang resource system shall be 2-16 accessible by: 2-17 (1) municipality or county; and 2-18 (2) gang name. 2-19 (h) The office of the attorney general may coordinate with 2-20 the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to include information in 2-21 the gang resource system regarding groups which have been 2-22 identified by the Security Threat Group Management Office of the 2-23 Texas Department of Criminal Justice. 2-24 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-4 passage, and it is so enacted. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1578 passed the Senate on April 15, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 28, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1578 passed the House, with amendments, on May 23, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor