87R11460 EAS-F

By: Johnson S.B. No. 1806

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Task Force on Prevention and Investigation of Violent Crime.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION OF VIOLENT CRIME. (a) The Task Force on Prevention and Investigation of Violent Crime is established to evaluate the policies and practices of law enforcement agencies and other entities related to the prevention and investigation of violent crime.

(b) The task force is composed of the following 13 members:

(1) nine members appointed by the governor as follows:

(A) three members representing communities in this state with chronically high levels of violent crime;

(B) two members with policy expertise in criminal justice and representing public and private institutions of higher education in this state;

(C) two members representing law enforcement agencies from large municipalities in this state experiencing elevated levels of violent crime; and

(D) two members representing entities that operate systems that are used by law enforcement agencies and other governmental agencies to prevent or investigate violent crime in large municipalities in this state experiencing elevated levels of violent crime;

(2) two members of the senate appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

(3) two members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

(c) The governor shall designate a member of the task force to serve as the presiding officer.

(d) The task force shall:

(1) receive reports and testimony from individuals, state and local governmental agencies, community-based organizations, and other public and private organizations regarding the effectiveness of strategies currently used to prevent and investigate violent crime in this state;

(2) identify effective policies, procedures, or programs currently used in this state or in other states to prevent and investigate violent crime; and

(3) develop policy and other recommendations for state agencies and the legislature to improve the prevention and investigation of violent crime in this state.

(e) In developing recommendations under Subsection (d)(3) of this section, the task force shall:

(1) consider methods to improve relationships and increase trust between law enforcement agencies and communities with higher than average violent crime rates to encourage victims and witnesses to report crimes and cooperate in law enforcement investigations;

(2) identify best practices in successful criminal investigations, including best practices with respect to:

(A) evidence collection and handling;

(B) forensics;

(C) witness and victim support;

(D) digital media evidence processing, including the collection and review of video; and

(E) any other area of criminal investigation that significantly impacts the ability of a law enforcement agency to identify a suspect and the ability of the attorney representing the state to obtain a conviction;

(3) evaluate the costs and benefits of proactive law enforcement strategies;

(4) evaluate the effectiveness of 9-1-1 dispatch systems throughout the state in delivering responses to calls related to violent crime;

(5) facilitate cooperation and the ability to share information among law enforcement agencies and public and private entities;

(6) encourage the collection, sharing, public dissemination, and effective use of data by law enforcement agencies to improve their operations;

(7) evaluate ways to improve law enforcement trainings and procedures to facilitate successful criminal investigations; and

(8) consider strategies designed to improve employment-related incentives for peace officers, including promotions, and to improve procedures for disciplining peace officers more effectively, including strategies that will:

(A) reward officers who display exceptional skill at discharging law enforcement functions; and

(B) appropriately discipline officers who engage in misconduct.

(f) The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical support to the task force.

(g) Appointed members of the task force serve without compensation and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses incurred while conducting the business of the task force.

(h) The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas may accept gifts, grants, or donations on behalf of the task force to carry out the task force's duties under this Act.

(i) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the task force.

SECTION 2. REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2022, the task force shall prepare and submit a report on the task force's activities to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over criminal justice matters. The report must include:

(1) the findings and recommendations of the task force, including recommendations described by Section 1(d)(3) of this Act; and

(2) other relevant information that the task force considers appropriate.

SECTION 3. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the members of the task force as required by this Act.

SECTION 4. ABOLITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 5. 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.