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Amend SB 537 by adding the following appropriately numbered
ARTICLE and renumbering subsequent ARTICLES accordingly:
ARTICLE ____. CONTROL OF INTERCEPTING DEVICES
SECTION ____. Section 5, Article 18.20, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding
Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section and Section
8A, only the Department of Public Safety is authorized by this
article to own, possess, install, operate, or monitor an
electronic, mechanical, or other device. The Department of Public
Safety may be assisted by an investigative or law enforcement
officer or other person in the operation and monitoring of an
interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications, provided
that the officer or other person:
(1) is designated by the director for that purpose; and
(2) acts in the presence and under the direction of a
commissioned officer of the Department of Public Safety.
(c) The Department of Public Safety, upon request by the
Texas Department of Criminal Justice, shall authorize the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice to own electronic, mechanical, or
other devices for a use or purpose authorized by Section 500.008,
Government Code, and the inspector general of the Texas Department
of Criminal Justice, a commissioned officer of that office, or
another person acting in the presence and under the direction of a
commissioned officer of that office may possess, install, operate,
or monitor those devices as provided by Section 500.008.
(d) The Department of Public Safety, upon request by the
Texas Youth Commission, shall authorize the Texas Youth Commission
to own electronic, mechanical, or other devices for a use or purpose
authorized by Section 61.0455, Human Resources Code, and the
inspector general of the Texas Youth Commission, a commissioned
officer of that office, or another person acting in the presence and
under the direction of a commissioned officer of that office may
possess, install, operate, or monitor those devices as provided by
Section 61.0455.
SECTION ____. Section 17, Article 18.20, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 17. NONAPPLICABILITY. This article does not apply to
conduct described as an affirmative defense under Section 16.02(c),
Penal Code, except as otherwise specifically provided by that
section.
SECTION ____. Chapter 500, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 500.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 500.008. DETECTION AND MONITORING OF CELLULAR
TELEPHONES. (a) As provided by Article 18.20, Code of Criminal
Procedure, the department may own and the office of inspector
general may possess, install, operate, or monitor an electronic,
mechanical, or other device, as defined by Article 18.20, Code of
Criminal Procedure.
(b) The inspector general shall designate in writing the
commissioned officers of the office of inspector general who are
authorized to possess, install, operate, and monitor electronic,
mechanical, or other devices for the department.
(c) An investigative or law enforcement officer or other
person, on request of the office of inspector general, may assist
the office in the operation and monitoring of an interception of
wire, oral, or electronic communications if the investigative or
law enforcement officer or other person:
(1) is designated by the executive director for that
purpose; and
(2) acts in the presence and under the direction of a
commissioned officer of the inspector general.
SECTION ____. Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Human Resources Code,
is amended by adding Section 61.0455 to read as follows:
Sec. 61.0455. DETECTION AND MONITORING OF CELLULAR
TELEPHONES. (a) As provided by Article 18.20, Code of Criminal
Procedure, the commission may own and the office of the inspector
general may possess, install, operate, or monitor an electronic,
mechanical, or other device, as defined by Article 18.20, Code of
Criminal Procedure.
(b) The inspector general shall designate in writing the
commissioned officers of the office of inspector general who are
authorized to possess, install, operate, or monitor an electronic,
mechanical, or other devices for the commission.
(c) An investigative or law enforcement officer or other
person, on request of the office of inspector general, may assist
the office in the operation and monitoring of an interception of
wire, oral, or electronic communications if the investigative or
law enforcement officer or other person:
(1) is designated by the executive commissioner for
that purpose; and
(2) acts in the presence and under the direction of a
commissioned officer of the inspector general.
SECTION ____. Section 16.02, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
(e-1) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (d)(1)
that the electronic, mechanical, or other device is possessed by a
person authorized to possess the device under Section 500.008,
Government Code, or Section 61.0455, Human Resources Code.
SECTION ____. The changes in law made by this article with
respect to Sections 16.02 and 38.11, Penal Code, apply only to an
offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this
Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.