SRC-BWC S.B. 1088 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1088
77R7885 YDB-DBy: Harris
Criminal Justice
3/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Rangers comprise a division within the Department of
Public Safety (DPS). It is considered one of the oldest law enforcement
organizations in the United States, and as a statewide special crimes unit,
it is often called upon to investigate crimes.  Like the Texas Rangers, DPS
has a separate special crimes unit, but neither functions as an internal
affairs division for DPS.  The Texas Rangers effectively function as a
separate department within DPS.   
As proposed, S.B. 1088 establishes the Texas Rangers as a separate entity
under the Public Safety Commission with an administrative connection to
DPS.  The Texas Rangers and the special crimes unit of DPS will function as
two separate entities under the commission, but will use the same
facilities such as the crime lab and shooting range. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the highest ranking officer of
the Texas Rangers in SECTION 7 (Section 411.0215, Government Code) in this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Chapter 411, Government Code, to read as
follows: 

CHAPTER 411.  DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE 
STATE OF TEXAS;  TEXAS RANGERS

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 411.002(a), Government Code, by removing the
Texas Rangers from the composition of the Department of Public Safety of
the State of Texas (department). 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 411.003(a), Government Code, to provide that the
Public Safety Commission (commission) controls the department and the Texas
Rangers. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Section 411.006(a), Government Code, by deleting the
"Texas Rangers" from the list of those receiving commissions from the
public safety director. 

SECTION 5.  Amends Section 411.015, Government Code, by deleting the text
"division relating to the" when referring to the Texas Rangers. 

SECTION 6.  Amends Section 411.021, Government Code, to provide that the
Texas Rangers are organized under the jurisdiction of the commission and
consist of the number of rangers authorized by the legislature, rather than
are a major division of the department consisting of the number of rangers
authorized by the legislature.  Provides that the highest ranking officer
of the Texas Rangers is responsible to and reports directly to the
commission, rather than the director.   

SECTION 7.  Amends Chapter 411B, Government Code, by adding Section
411.0215, as follows: 

Sec. 411.0215.  DUTIES OF HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER.  Requires the highest
ranking officer of the Texas Rangers to perform certain tasks including
adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the
control of the Texas Rangers.  Requires the highest ranking officer to
provide to members of the commission and to the Texas Rangers, as often as
necessary, information regarding the requirements for serving as a Texas
Ranger under this chapter, including information regarding a person's
responsibilities under applicable laws relating to standards of conduct for
state employees. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Section 411.024(c), Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 9.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.