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By:  Gutierrez                                                    H.B. No. 3544



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing a pilot program to prevent certain 
juveniles from crossing the border between this state and Mexico.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  "Peace Officer" has the meaning assigned by 
Article 2.12, Sec. (1), (2), (3), (4), and (6) and Article 2.122, 
Code of Criminal Procedure.
	"Juvenile" means an individual who is under 18 years of age.                   
	SECTION 2.  PILOT PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.  (a)  A pilot program 
shall be established in the county of Hidalgo and the county of 
Cameron delegating the duty of a peace officer to prevent certain 
juveniles from crossing the border between this state and Mexico.
	(b)  A peace officer who observes a person younger than 18 
years of age attempting to cross the border between this state and 
Mexico shall prevent the person from crossing the border unless the 
person:
		(1)  is accompanied by a parent or guardian; or                               
		(2)  has:                                                                     
			(A)  written consent from the person's parent or 
guardian to cross the border; or
			(B)  a current United States passport issued to 
the person.                
	(b)  A peace officer who prevents a person from crossing the 
border as required by this article may not detain the person unless 
the officer has reasonable suspicion or probable cause to believe 
that the person has engaged in conduct prohibited by law.