HBA-TBM H.B. 1748 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1748 By: Giddings Public Safety 7/3/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND 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. House Bill 1748 establishes an unsolved crimes investigation team. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1748 amends the Government Code to establish an unsolved crimes investigation team (team) within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. 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. The bill authorizes the public safety director (director) to employ commissioned peace officers and noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the team and sets forth eligibility requirements of peace officers and noncommissioned employees. On the request of an attorney representing the state and with the approval of the director, the team is authorized to assist local law enforcement in the investigation of a crime. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.