By Harris S.B. No. 1088
77R7885 YDB-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to designating the Texas Rangers as a separate law
1-3 enforcement division under the authority of the Public Safety
1-4 Commission.
1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-6 SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 411, Government Code, is
1-7 amended to read as follows:
1-8 CHAPTER 411. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE
1-9 STATE OF TEXAS; TEXAS RANGERS
1-10 SECTION 2. Section 411.002(a), Government Code, is amended
1-11 to read as follows:
1-12 (a) The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas is
1-13 an agency of the state to enforce the laws protecting the public
1-14 safety and provide for the prevention and detection of crime. The
1-15 department is composed of the [Texas Rangers, the] Texas Highway
1-16 Patrol, the administrative division, and other divisions that the
1-17 commission considers necessary.
1-18 SECTION 3. Section 411.003(a), Government Code, is amended
1-19 to read as follows:
1-20 (a) The Public Safety Commission controls the department and
1-21 the Texas Rangers.
1-22 SECTION 4. Section 411.006(a), Government Code, is amended
1-23 to read as follows:
1-24 (a) The director shall:
2-1 (1) be directly responsible to the commission for the
2-2 conduct of the department's affairs;
2-3 (2) act as executive director of the department;
2-4 (3) act with the commission in an advisory capacity,
2-5 without vote;
2-6 (4) adopt rules, subject to commission approval,
2-7 considered necessary for the control of the department;
2-8 (5) issue commissions as law enforcement officers,
2-9 under the commission's direction, to all members of the [Texas
2-10 Rangers and the] Texas Highway Patrol and to other officers of the
2-11 department;
2-12 (6) appoint, with the advice and consent of the
2-13 commission, the head of a division or bureau provided for by this
2-14 chapter;
2-15 (7) quarterly, annually, and biennially submit to the
2-16 commission detailed reports of the operation of the department,
2-17 including statements of its expenditures; and
2-18 (8) prepare, swear to, submit to the governor, and
2-19 file in the department's records a quarterly statement containing
2-20 an itemized list of all money received and its source and all money
2-21 spent and the purposes for which it was spent.
2-22 SECTION 5. Section 411.015, Government Code, is amended by
2-23 amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
2-24 follows:
2-25 (b) The number of divisions may not exceed the number of
2-26 divisions existing on August 22, 1957.
2-27 (c) The [division relating to the] Texas Rangers may not be
3-1 abolished.
3-2 SECTION 6. Section 411.021, Government Code, is amended to
3-3 read as follows:
3-4 Sec. 411.021. COMPOSITION. The Texas Rangers are organized
3-5 under the jurisdiction [a major division] of the commission and
3-6 consist [department consisting] of the number of rangers authorized
3-7 by the legislature. The highest ranking officer of the Texas
3-8 Rangers is responsible to and reports directly to the commission
3-9 [director]. Officers are entitled to compensation as provided by
3-10 the legislature.
3-11 SECTION 7. Subchapter B, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
3-12 amended by adding Section 411.0215 to read as follows:
3-13 Sec. 411.0215. DUTIES OF HIGHEST RANKING OFFICER. (a) The
3-14 highest ranking officer of the Texas Rangers shall:
3-15 (1) be directly responsible to the commission for the
3-16 conduct of the Texas Rangers' affairs;
3-17 (2) act as executive director of the Texas Rangers;
3-18 (3) act with the commission in an advisory capacity,
3-19 without vote;
3-20 (4) adopt rules, subject to commission approval,
3-21 considered necessary for the control of the Texas Rangers;
3-22 (5) issue commissions as law enforcement officers,
3-23 under the commission's direction, to all members of the Texas
3-24 Rangers;
3-25 (6) quarterly, annually, and biennially submit to the
3-26 commission detailed reports of the operation of the Texas Rangers,
3-27 including statements of its expenditures;
4-1 (7) prepare, swear to, submit to the governor, and
4-2 file in the Texas Rangers' records a quarterly statement containing
4-3 an itemized list of all money received and its source and all money
4-4 spent and the purposes for which it was spent; and
4-5 (8) recommend to the commission a budget for the
4-6 operations of the Texas Rangers and provide advice to the
4-7 commission about the financial needs and condition of the
4-8 operations of the Texas Rangers.
4-9 (b) The highest ranking officer shall provide to members of
4-10 the commission and to the Texas Rangers, as often as necessary,
4-11 information regarding the requirements for serving as a Texas
4-12 Ranger under this chapter, including information regarding a
4-13 person's responsibilities under applicable laws relating to
4-14 standards of conduct for state employees.
4-15 SECTION 8. Section 411.024(c), Government Code, is amended
4-16 to read as follows:
4-17 (c) Before issuance of a commission to a special Texas
4-18 Ranger the person shall enter into a good and sufficient bond
4-19 executed by a surety company authorized to do business in the state
4-20 in the amount of $2,500, approved by the commission [director], and
4-21 indemnifying all persons against damages resulting from an unlawful
4-22 act of the special Texas Ranger.
4-23 SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.