87R7236 MLH-D
 
  By: Raymond H.B. No. 4232
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the COVID-19 Consumer and Investor
  Fraud Task Force.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
               (1)  "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
  disease.
               (2)  "COVID-19 public health emergency" means a state
  of disaster declared in a proclamation or executive order issued by
  the governor in response to COVID-19, including a continuation of
  the state of disaster under a renewal of the proclamation or
  executive order.
               (3)  "Task force" means the COVID-19 Consumer and
  Investor Fraud Task Force established under this Act.
         SECTION 2.  ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE. The COVID-19
  Consumer and Investor Fraud Task Force is established to help
  protect consumers and investors by preventing and reducing the
  incidences of fraud related to the COVID-19 public health
  emergency.
         SECTION 3.  TASK FORCE MEMBERSHIP. (a)  The task force is
  composed of representatives of the following agencies:
               (1)  the office of the attorney general;
               (2)  the Office of Consumer Credit Commissioner;
               (3)  the Texas Department of Banking;
               (4)  the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending;
  and
               (5)  the State Securities Board.
         (b)  The executive head of each agency listed in Subsection
  (a) of this section shall appoint a representative to serve as the
  agency's representative on the task force not later than October 1,
  2021.
         SECTION 4.  PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS.  (a)  The members of
  the task force shall select the presiding officer of the task force.
         (b)  The presiding officer shall call the initial meeting of
  the task force on or before January 1, 2022. Subject to Subsection
  (c) of this section, the task force shall meet at the times and
  places that the presiding officer determines are appropriate.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, or any
  other law, the task force may meet by telephone conference call,
  videoconference, or other similar telecommunication method.  A
  meeting held by telephone conference call, videoconference, or
  other similar telecommunication method is subject to the
  requirements of Sections 551.125(c), (d), (e), and (f), Government
  Code.
         SECTION 5.  DUTIES OF TASK FORCE. (a)  The task force shall
  facilitate collaboration between the agencies represented on the
  task force to:
               (1)  provide information and resources to help
  consumers and investors avoid becoming a victim of fraud related to
  the COVID-19 public health emergency;
               (2)  provide information and resources, including
  legal aid resources, to help consumers and investors who have been
  victims of fraud during the COVID-19 public health emergency; and
               (3)  recommend further action to reduce and combat the
  prevalence of fraud relating to the COVID-19 public health
  emergency.
         (b)  The task force shall coordinate and collaborate with
  other state agencies not participating in the task force as
  appropriate.
         SECTION 6.  REPORT. The task force shall submit a quarterly
  written report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the
  speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the
  legislature, detailing:
               (1)  the information and resources made publicly
  available to consumers by the agencies represented on the task
  force;
               (2)  the number of consumer complaints received by the
  agencies represented on the task force that allege fraud that
  occurred during the COVID-19 public health emergency;
               (3)  the nature of the consumer complaints described by
  Subdivision (2) of this section; and
               (4)  recommendations of further action that can be
  taken by the state to prevent and reduce the incidence of fraud
  during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
         SECTION 7.  EXPIRATION. The task force is abolished and this
  Act expires on the one-year anniversary of the date the final
  COVID-19 public health emergency declaration terminates.
         SECTION 8.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2021.