By Ellis S.B. No. 794 77R2041 ATP-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the right of a foreign national to contact a foreign 1-3 consular official. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Article 15.17, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-6 amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 1-7 (e)(1) If a magistrate knows or suspects that a person 1-8 brought before the magistrate after an arrest is a foreign 1-9 national, the magistrate shall inform the person that after an 1-10 arrest a foreign national has a right to communicate with an 1-11 official from the consulate of the person's country. If the person 1-12 chooses to exercise the right to communicate with the consular 1-13 official, the magistrate shall notify an official of the penal 1-14 institution in which the person is confined that the person wants a 1-15 foreign consular official to be notified. The official of the penal 1-16 institution shall allow the person to communicate with, correspond 1-17 with, and be visited by a consular official of the person's 1-18 country. 1-19 (2) In providing a foreign national with rights 1-20 described by Subdivision (1), the magistrate and official of the 1-21 penal institution shall comply with policies and procedures adopted 1-22 by the United States Department of State that apply to the 1-23 notification of foreign consular officials on the arrest of foreign 1-24 nationals. 2-1 SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended by 2-2 adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: 2-3 (e) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the 2-4 commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and 2-5 training program on the requirements for handling the arrest and 2-6 detention of a foreign national as provided by Article 15.17(e), 2-7 Code of Criminal Procedure. 2-8 SECTION 3. (a) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer 2-9 Standards and Education shall establish the curriculum for a 2-10 comprehensive education and training program for peace officers as 2-11 required by Section 1701.253(e), Occupations Code, as added by this 2-12 Act, on or before January 1, 2002. 2-13 (b) For persons who are licensed peace officers on September 2-14 1, 2001, the first course required under Section 1701.253(e), 2-15 Occupations Code, as added by this Act, must be completed before 2-16 September 1, 2003. 2-17 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.