BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 3

By: Huffman

Appropriations

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation in 2021 certifying that the ongoing surge of individuals unlawfully crossing the Texas-Mexico border poses an ongoing and imminent threat of widespread and severe damage, including injury and loss of life, property damage and property crime, human trafficking and violent crime, threats to public health, and a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Additionally, the governor's proclamation issued for the fourth special session of the 88th Legislature called for legislation to impede illegal entry into Texas by providing more funding for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure, and additional funding for the Department of Public Safety (DPS) for border security operations, including additional overtime expenses and costs due to an increased law enforcement presence to preserve public safety and security in the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County. S.B. 3 seeks to mitigate those threats and address the governor's proclamations by providing a supplemental appropriation to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for the purpose of providing funding for border security operations and the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure and by requiring a transfer of $40,000,000 from that appropriated amount to DPS for the purposes stated in the latter proclamation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 3 appropriates $1,540,000,000 from the general revenue fund to the trusteed programs within the governor's office for use during the two-year period beginning on the bill's effective date for the purpose of providing funding for border security operations and the construction, operation, and maintenance of border barrier infrastructure. The bill requires the trusteed programs within the governor's office to transfer $40,000,000 of that appropriated amount to the Department of Public Safety for border security operations, including paying for additional overtime expenses and costs due to an increased law enforcement presence to preserve public safety and security in the Colony Ridge development in Liberty County, Texas.

S.B. 3 prohibits the money appropriated by the bill from being used to do the following:

· acquire property through the exercise of eminent domain;

· build a barrier along Texas' international border with Mexico on property acquired through the exercise of eminent domain;

· acquire property for a barrier that abuts the boundary between Texas and another state; or

· build a barrier that abuts the boundary between Texas and another state.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, the 91st day after the last day of the legislative session.