By:  Barrientos, Harris                                S.B. No. 786
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of an unsolved crimes investigation team
 1-3     within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
 1-7              SUBCHAPTER J.  UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM
 1-8           Sec. 411.261.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
 1-9                 (1)  "Attorney representing the state" means a district
1-10     attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney performing
1-11     the duties of a district attorney.
1-12                 (2)  "Unsolved crime" means a criminal offense:
1-13                       (A)  that is an unsolved homicide or an unsolved
1-14     felony that is one offense arising out of the same criminal episode
1-15     as other unsolved felonies; and
1-16                       (B)  the investigation of which requires a level
1-17     of expertise that is not readily available to local law enforcement
1-18     agencies.
1-19           Sec. 411.262.  UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM.  (a)  The
1-20     unsolved crimes investigation team is an investigatory unit within
1-21     the department.
1-22           (b)  The team will be located at the headquarters of the
1-23     Texas Rangers in Austin, Texas, and will be commanded by the chief
1-24     of the Texas Rangers.
1-25           (c)  The director may employ commissioned peace officers and
 2-1     noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the team.
 2-2           (d)  To be eligible for employment under this section, a
 2-3     peace officer must have not less than four years of experience as a
 2-4     peace officer and:
 2-5                 (1)  a degree from an accredited institution of higher
 2-6     education in law, accounting, or computer science; or
 2-7                 (2)  two or more years of experience in the
 2-8     investigation of homicides or other major felonies.
 2-9           (e)  To be eligible for employment under this section, a
2-10     noncommissioned employee must meet the experience, training, and
2-11     educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for
2-12     investigating or assisting in the investigation of an unsolved
2-13     crime.
2-14           Sec. 411.263.  ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST.  On the request of an
2-15     attorney representing the state and with the approval of the
2-16     director, the unsolved crimes investigation team of the department
2-17     may assist local law enforcement in the investigation of crime.
2-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.