85R3431 MCK-F
 
  By: Oliveira H.B. No. 1546
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the operations of the Department of Public Safety,
  Parks and Wildlife Department, and state military forces in the
  border region.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.00711 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.00711.  TRAINING FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
  ASSIGNED TO BORDER REGION.  Department officers assigned to a
  department region that includes one or more counties along the
  Texas-Mexico border must be certified regarding appropriate
  training, including academy and in-service training, in the
  following:
               (1)  immigration law related to protections for victims
  of crime or persecution;
               (2)  use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
  the need for lethal force;
               (3)  social and cultural sensitivity toward border
  communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
  residents;
               (4)  language and basic cultural awareness of major
  migrant-sending nations;
               (5)  best practices in community policing and civil and
  human rights;
               (6)  response to grievances and referral of complaints;
  and
               (7)  identification of and response to vulnerable
  populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
  asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
  individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.0198 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.0198.  OMBUDSMAN FOR BORDER OPERATIONS-RELATED
  CONCERNS.  (a)  In this section, "ombudsman" means the ombudsman for
  border operations-related concerns established under this section.
         (b)  The director shall appoint an ombudsman for border
  operations-related concerns. The ombudsman shall report directly
  to the director.
         (c)  To serve as ombudsman, a person must be knowledgeable in
  civil and human rights law.
         (d)  The ombudsman shall receive and resolve complaints from
  individuals and employers and assist in resolving problems with the
  border operations components of the department.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 411.055 and 411.056 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.055.  PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR ASSESSING BORDER
  OPERATIONS. The department shall develop and implement performance
  measures as part of the department's review of its border
  operations.
         Sec. 411.056.  ANNUAL REPORT ON BORDER OPERATIONS. Not
  later than January 30 of each year, the department shall report to
  the legislature regarding the impact of the department's border
  operations on the protection of due process, the civil and human
  rights of border residents and visitors, the private property
  rights of landowners, and the economies of municipalities and
  counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter E, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 437.233 to read as follows:
         Sec. 437.233.  TRAINING FOR MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES
  ASSIGNED TO BORDER COUNTIES. A member of the Texas military forces
  serving on state active duty in a county along the Texas-Mexico
  border must be certified regarding appropriate training, including
  academy and in-service training, in the following:
               (1)  immigration law related to protections for victims
  of crime or persecution;
               (2)  use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
  the need for lethal force;
               (3)  social and cultural sensitivity toward border
  communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
  residents;
               (4)  language and basic cultural awareness of major
  migrant-sending nations;
               (5)  best practices in community policing and civil and
  human rights;
               (6)  response to grievances and referral of complaints;
  and
               (7)  identification of and response to vulnerable
  populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
  asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
  individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
  Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0196 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.0196.  TRAINING FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS.  A peace
  officer of the department assigned to a county along the
  Texas-Mexico border must be certified regarding appropriate
  training, including academy and in-service training, in the
  following:
               (1)  immigration law related to protections for victims
  of crime or persecution;
               (2)  use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
  the need for lethal force;
               (3)  social and cultural sensitivity toward border
  communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
  residents;
               (4)  language and basic cultural awareness of major
  migrant-sending nations;
               (5)  best practices in community policing and civil and
  human rights;
               (6)  response to grievances and referral of complaints;
  and
               (7)  identification of and response to vulnerable
  populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
  asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
  individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.