SRC-BWC H.B. 1748 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1748
By: Giddings (Barrientos)
Criminal Justice
5/11/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

During the interim, the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice
recommended the creation of an unsolved crimes investigation team (team)
under the command of the chief of the Texas Rangers to take advantage of
the advances in genetic and forensic sciences.  The senate committee also
recommended that the team investigate cold cases on a level of expertise
that exceeds the capabilities of local law enforcement agencies.  H.B. 1748
establishes an unsolved crimes investigation team.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Subchapter J, as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER J.  UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM

Sec. 411.261.  DEFINITIONS. Defines "attorney representing the state" and
"unsolved crime." 

Sec. 411.262.  UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM.  Provides that the
unsolved crimes investigation team is an investigatory unit within the
Department of Public Safety (department). Provides that the team will be
located at the headquarters of the Texas Rangers in Austin, Texas, and will
be commanded by the chief of the Texas Rangers. Authorizes the director to
employ commissioned peace officers and noncommissioned employees to perform
duties required of the team.  Provides that to be eligible for employment
under this section, a peace officer must have not less than four years of
experience as a peace officer and a degree from an accredited institution
of higher education in law, accounting, or computer science, or two or more
years of experience in the investigation of homicides or other major
felonies.  Requires a noncommissioned employee, in order to be eligible for
employment under this section, to meet the experience, training, and
educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for
investigating or assisting in the investigation of an unsolved crime. 

Sec. 411.263.  ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST.  Authorizes the unsolved crimes
investigation team of the department to assist local law enforcement in the
investigation of crime, on the request of an attorney representing the
state and with the approval of the director. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.