By: Riddle, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Davis) H.B. No. 1120
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 4, 2013;
  April 8, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Criminal Justice; May 17, 2013, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 17, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the duties of the Texas Crime Stoppers Council to
  encourage individuals to report criminal activity related to
  trafficking of persons.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 414.005, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 414.005.  DUTIES. The council shall:
               (1)  encourage, advise, and assist in the creation of
  crime stoppers organizations;
               (2)  foster the detection of crime and encourage
  persons to report information about criminal acts;
               (3)  encourage news and other media to broadcast
  reenactments and to inform the public of the functions of crime
  stoppers organizations' operations and programs;
               (4)  promote the process of crime stoppers
  organizations to forward information about criminal acts to the
  appropriate law enforcement agencies;
               (5)  help law enforcement agencies detect and combat
  crime by increasing the flow of information to and between law
  enforcement agencies;
               (6)  create specialized programs targeted at detecting
  specific crimes or types of crimes, including at least one program
  that:
                     (A)  encourages individuals to report sex
  offenders who have failed to register under Chapter 62, Code of
  Criminal Procedure; [and]
                     (B)  encourages individuals to report criminal
  activity relating to the trafficking of persons, as described under
  Chapter 20A, Penal Code; and
                     (C)  financially rewards each individual who
  makes a report described by Paragraph (A) or (B) that leads or
  substantially contributes to the arrest or apprehension:
                           (i)  of a sex offender who has failed to
  register under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
                           (ii)  of a person suspected of engaging in
  conduct that constitutes an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code;
  and
               (7)  encourage, advise, and assist crime stoppers
  organizations in implementing any programs created under
  Subdivision (6), including a program specifically described by
  Subdivision (6).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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