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.
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