85R6356 JG-D
 
  By: Blanco H.B. No. 1202
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study on the effectiveness of Operation Secure Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "Homeland Security
  Council" means the advisory entity created under Subchapter B,
  Chapter 421, Government Code.
         SECTION 2.  STUDY OF OPERATION SECURE TEXAS. The Homeland
  Security Council shall conduct a study to evaluate the
  effectiveness of Operation Secure Texas.
         SECTION 3.  SCOPE OF STUDY. (a) The study must:
               (1)  evaluate how effectively state financial
  resources were used to address the threat of drug cartel crime along
  the international border during the operation;
               (2)  evaluate how effectively state financial
  resources are currently being used to address the threat of drug
  cartel crime along the international border;
               (3)  compare the estimated amount of controlled
  substances illegally transported across the border during
  Operation Secure Texas with the amount of controlled substances
  illegally transported across the border during a comparable period
  immediately before the date the operation began; and
               (4)  compare the estimated number of firearms illegally
  transported across the border during Operation Secure Texas with
  the estimated number of firearms illegally transported across the
  border during a comparable period immediately before the date the
  operation began.
         (b)  In conducting the study, the Homeland Security Council
  shall solicit input from and collaborate with:
               (1)  local law enforcement agencies and officials,
  including county sheriffs' departments and local police
  departments, on best practices for improving state efforts to
  combat drug and firearms trafficking; and
               (2)  to the extent feasible, the United States Border
  Patrol.
         SECTION 4.  REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The Homeland
  Security Council shall issue a written report to the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives that includes the council's findings.
         (b)  The report must be issued not later than November 30,
  2018.
         SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2018.
         SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2017.