1-1 By: Barrientos, Harris S.B. No. 786 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 20, 2001; February 21, 2001, 1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal Justice; 1-4 April 30, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, 1-5 Nays 0; April 30, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of an unsolved crimes investigation team 1-9 within the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by 1-12 adding Subchapter J to read as follows: 1-13 SUBCHAPTER J. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM 1-14 Sec. 411.261. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: 1-15 (1) "Attorney representing the state" means a district 1-16 attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney performing 1-17 the duties of a district attorney. 1-18 (2) "Unsolved crime" means a criminal offense: 1-19 (A) that is an unsolved homicide or an unsolved 1-20 felony that is one offense arising out of the same criminal episode 1-21 as other unsolved felonies; and 1-22 (B) the investigation of which requires a level 1-23 of expertise that is not readily available to local law enforcement 1-24 agencies. 1-25 Sec. 411.262. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION TEAM. (a) The 1-26 unsolved crimes investigation team is an investigatory unit within 1-27 the department. 1-28 (b) The team will be located at the headquarters of the 1-29 Texas Rangers in Austin, Texas, and will be commanded by the chief 1-30 of the Texas Rangers. 1-31 (c) The director may employ commissioned peace officers and 1-32 noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the team. 1-33 (d) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-34 peace officer must have not less than four years of experience as a 1-35 peace officer and: 1-36 (1) a degree from an accredited institution of higher 1-37 education in law, accounting, or computer science; or 1-38 (2) two or more years of experience in the 1-39 investigation of homicides or other major felonies. 1-40 (e) To be eligible for employment under this section, a 1-41 noncommissioned employee must meet the experience, training, and 1-42 educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for 1-43 investigating or assisting in the investigation of an unsolved 1-44 crime. 1-45 Sec. 411.263. ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST. On the request of an 1-46 attorney representing the state and with the approval of the 1-47 director, the unsolved crimes investigation team of the department 1-48 may assist local law enforcement in the investigation of crime. 1-49 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-50 * * * * *