1-1 By: Giddings, Turner of Harris H.B. No. 1748 1-2 (Senate Sponsor - Barrientos) 1-3 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 11, 2001; 1-4 May 11, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal 1-5 Justice; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: 1-6 Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-8 AN ACT 1-9 relating to the creation of an unsolved crimes investigation team 1-10 within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding 1-13 Subchapter J to read as follows: 1-14 SUBCHAPTER J. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM 1-15 Sec. 411.261. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: 1-16 (1) "Attorney representing the state" means a district 1-17 attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney performing 1-18 the duties of a district attorney. 1-19 (2) "Unsolved crime" means a criminal offense: 1-20 (A) that is an unsolved homicide or an unsolved 1-21 felony that is one offense arising out of the same criminal episode 1-22 as other unsolved felonies; and 1-23 (B) the investigation of which requires a level 1-24 of expertise that is not readily available to local law enforcement 1-25 agencies. 1-26 Sec. 411.262. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM. (a) The 1-27 unsolved crimes investigation team is an investigatory unit within 1-28 the department. 1-29 (b) The team will be located at the headquarters of the 1-30 Texas Rangers in Austin, Texas, and will be commanded by the chief 1-31 of the Texas Rangers. 1-32 (c) The director may employ commissioned peace officers and 1-33 noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the team. 1-34 (d) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-35 peace officer must have not less than four years of experience as a 1-36 peace officer and: 1-37 (1) a degree from an accredited institution of higher 1-38 education in law, accounting, or computer science; or 1-39 (2) two or more years of experience in the 1-40 investigation of homicides or other major felonies. 1-41 (e) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-42 noncommissioned employee must meet the experience, training, and 1-43 educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for 1-44 investigating or assisting in the investigation of an unsolved 1-45 crime. 1-46 Sec. 411.263. ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST. On the request of an 1-47 attorney representing the state and with the approval of the 1-48 director, the unsolved crimes investigation team of the department 1-49 may assist local law enforcement in the investigation of crime. 1-50 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-51 * * * * *