By: Schaefer H.B. No. 20
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to measures to ensure the safety and welfare of the
  southern border region of this state, including protection from
  ongoing criminal activity and public health threats; creating a
  criminal offense; creating a civil penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         SECTION 1.01.  SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as the
  Border Protection Unit Act.
         SECTION 1.02.  FINDINGS. (a) The legislature finds that:
               (1)  The security of Texans and the sovereignty of the
  state has been threatened by the deadly activities of transnational
  cartels operating throughout the State of Texas and the United
  States;
               (2)  Many Texans have lost the peaceful use and
  enjoyment of their properties due to criminal activities along the
  border;
               (3)  Lethal quantities of opioids such as fentanyl are
  being trafficked into Texas and resulting in the poisoning deaths
  of thousands of people throughout the country;
               (4)  Texas is in such imminent danger as will not admit
  of delay, and now declares authority under Article 1, § 10 of the
  U.S. Constitution;
               (5)  The Legislature, acting with the Governor, has the
  solemn duty to protect and defend the citizens of Texas, and
  maintain the sovereignty of Texas borders.
         SECTION 1.03.  Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by amending Subsection (4) to read as follows:
               (4)  rangers, officers, and members of the reserve
  officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission, [and]
  the Director of the Department of Public Safety, and the unit chief
  of the Border Protection Unit;
         SECTION 1.04.  Section 411.001, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Public Safety Commission.
               (2)  "Department" means the Department of Public Safety
  of the State of Texas.
               (3)  "Director" means the public safety director.
               (4)  "Internet" means the largest nonproprietary
  nonprofit cooperative public computer network, popularly known as
  the Internet.
               (5)  "Unit" means the Border Protection Unit.
               (6)  "Unit chief" means the person charged with
  directing the unit.
  ARTICLE 2. POWERS AND DUTIES
         SECTION 2.01.  Section 411.002, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) to read as follows:
         (a)  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas is
  an agency of the state to enforce the laws protecting the public
  safety, [and] provide for the prevention and detection of crime,
  and to defend and secure the Texas air, maritime, and land border.
  The department is composed of the Texas Rangers, the Texas Highway
  Patrol, the Border Protection Unit, the administrative division,
  and other divisions that the commission considers necessary.
         SECTION 2.02.  Sections 411.004, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subdivision (1) to read as follows:
               (1)  formulate plans and policies for:
                     (A)  enforcement of state criminal, traffic, and
  safety laws;
                     (B)  prevention of crime;
                     (C)  detection and apprehension of persons who
  violate laws; [and]
                     (D)  education of citizens of this state in the
  promotion of public safety and the observance of law; and
                     (E)  defense and security of the Texas air,
  maritime, and land border.
         SECTION 2.03.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Sections 411.0055 and 411.0056 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.0055.  BORDER PROTECTION UNIT CHIEF. (a) The
  governor shall appoint a citizen of the United States as border
  protection unit chief. The unit chief serves until removed by the
  governor.
         (b)  The unit chief may appoint, with the advice and consent
  of the commission, deputy unit chiefs and assistant unit chiefs who
  shall perform the duties that the unit chief designates. Deputy
  unit chiefs and assistant unit chiefs serve until removed by the
  unit chief.
         (c)  The unit chief, deputy unit chiefs, and assistant unit
  chiefs are entitled to annual salaries as provided by the
  legislature.
         Sec. 411.0056.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE BORDER PROTECTION
  UNIT CHIEF. (a) The unit chief shall:
               (1)  be directly responsible to the commission for all
  conduct of the border unit;
               (2)  act as the executive director of the unit;
               (3)  act with the commission in an advisory capacity,
  without vote;
               (4)  adopt rules, subject to commission approval,
  considered necessary for the control of the unit;
               (5)  issue commissions as law enforcement officers,
  under the commission's direction, and to such members of the border
  unit;
               (6)  create as necessary, with the advice and consent
  of the commission, operational and administrative divisions within
  the unit, and appoint heads of the divisions;
               (7)  the unit chief may employ licensed state or local
  law enforcement personnel to participate in unit operations and
  functions.
               (8)  the unit chief may employ law-abiding citizens
  without a felony conviction to participate in unit operations and
  functions, but such persons may not have arresting authority unless
  trained and specifically authorized by the governor.
               (9)  quarterly, annually, and biennially submit to the
  commission detailed reports of the operation of the unit, including
  statements of its expenditures; and
               (10)  prepare, swear to, submit to the governor, and
  file in the department's records a quarterly statement containing
  an itemized list of all money received and its source and all money
  spent and the purposes for which it was spent.
         (b)  The unit chief or unit chief's designee shall provide to
  members of the commission and to unit employees, as often as
  necessary, information regarding the requirements for office or
  employment under this chapter, including information regarding a
  person's responsibilities under applicable laws relating to
  standards of conduct for state officers or employees.
         (c)  The powers and duties vested in the director under the
  following Government Code Sections are also vested in the border
  protection unit chief:
               (1)  Section 411.007;
               (2)  Section 411.0071;
               (3)  Section 411.0075;
               (4)  Section 411.0079;
               (5)  Section 411.009;
               (6)  Section 411.0095;
               (7)  Section 411.0097;
               (8)  Section 411.0097;
               (9)  Section 411.0098;
               (10)  Section 411.013;
               (11)  Section 411.0131;
               (12)  Section 411.0132;
               (13)  Section 411.0141;
               (14)  Section 411.015;
               (15)  Section 411.016;
               (16)  Section 411.0161;
               (17)  Section 411.0162;
               (18)  Section 411.0163;
               (19)  Section 411.0164;
               (20)  Section 411.017;
               (21)  Section 411.018;
               (22)  Section 411.0207;
               (23)  Section 411.0208;
               (24)  Section 411.0209;
               (25)  Section 411.02095;
               (26)  Section 411.041;
               (27)  Section 411.043;
               (28)  Section 411.044;
               (29)  Section 411.045;
               (30)  Section 411.048;
               (31)  Section 411.0603;
               (32)  Section 411.0604;
               (33)  Section 411.0865;
               (34)  Section 411.087;
               (35)  Section 411.0891;
               (36)  Section 411.146;
               (37)  Section 411.147;
               (38)  Section 411.1471;
               (39)  Section 411.151;
               (40)  Section 411.154;
               (41)  Section 411.242;
               (42)  Section 411.243;
               (43)  Section 411.251;
               (44)  Section 411.252;
               (45)  Section 411.253;
               (46)  Section 411.255;
               (47)  Section 411.263; and
               (48)  Section 411.506.
         (d)  The director may not exercise any operational or
  administrative control of the border protection unit, or the unit
  chief.
         SECTION 2.04.  Section 411.006, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.006.  DUTIES OF DIRECTOR. (a) The director shall:
               (1)  [be directly responsible to the commission for the
  conduct of the department's affairs;]
               [(2)]  act as executive director for and be directly
  responsible to the commission for all conduct of the Texas Highway
  Patrol, the Texas Rangers, and other administrative divisions and
  departments assigned by the commission [of the department];
               [(3)(2)  act with the commission in an advisory
  capacity, without vote;
               [(4)(3)  adopt rules, subject to commission
  approval, considered necessary for the control of the department;
               [(5)(4)  issue commissions as law enforcement
  officers, under the commission's direction, to all members of the
  Texas Rangers and the Texas Highway Patrol and to other officers of
  the department;
               [(6)(5)  appoint, with the advice and consent of the
  commission, the head of a division or bureau provided for by this
  chapter;
               [(7)(6)  quarterly, annually, and biennially submit
  to the commission detailed reports of the operation of the
  department, including statements of its expenditures; and
               [(8)(7)  prepare, swear to, submit to the governor,
  and file in the department's records a quarterly statement
  containing an itemized list of all money received and its source and
  all money spent and the purposes for which it was spent.
         SECTION 2.05.  Section 411.007, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) to read as follows:
         (a)  Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the director
  and the unit chief may appoint, promote, reduce, suspend, or
  discharge any officer or employee of the department which has been
  assigned under their authority by the commission.
         SECTION 2.06.  Section 411.017, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) to read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if, without the director's
  authorization, the person:
               (1)  manufactures, sells, or possesses a badge,
  identification card, or other item bearing a department insignia or
  an insignia deceptively similar to the department's;
               (2)  makes a copy or likeness of a badge,
  identification card, or department insignia, with intent to use or
  allow another to use the copy or likeness to produce an item bearing
  the department insignia or an insignia deceptively similar to the
  department's; or
               (3)  uses the term "Texas Department of Public Safety,"
  "Department of Public Safety," "Texas Ranger," [or] "Texas Highway
  Patrol," or "Border Protection Unit" in connection with an object,
  with the intent to create the appearance that the object belongs to
  or is being used by the department.
         SECTION 2.07.  Section 411.251, Government Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The commission shall establish the office of inspector
  general for the department and the office of inspector general for
  the unit.
         (c)  The Border Protection Unit inspector general shall be
  appointed by the governor who shall perform the duties of this
  subchapter or as may be provided by law and as the unit chief
  designates. The inspector general shall serve until removed by the
  governor. The Border Protection Unit inspector general is
  responsible for:
               (1)  preparing and delivering assessments concerning
  the administration of the unit to the governor, the legislature,
  and the unit chief;
               (2)  perform responsibilities affecting the unit as set
  forth in Subsection (c);
               (3)  acting to prevent and detect serious breaches of
  departmental policy, fraud, and abuse of office, including any acts
  of criminal conduct within the unit; and
               (4)  independently and objectively reviewing,
  investigating, delegating, and overseeing the investigation of:
                     (A)  conduct described in Subdivision (1);
                     (B)  criminal activity occurring within the unit;
                     (C)  allegations of wrongdoing by unit employees;
                     (D)  crimes committed on unit property; and
                     (E)  serious breaches of unit policy.
         SECTION 2.08.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter S to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER S. BORDER PROTECTION UNIT
         Sec. 411.534.  COMPOSITION. (a) The Border Protection Unit
  ("the unit") is a division under the commission consisting of the
  number of officers authorized by the legislature and headquartered
  in the border region. The highest ranking officer of the unit is
  the border protection unit chief who shall be appointed by the
  governor, and report directly to the governor. Officers are
  entitled to compensation as provided by the legislature and will be
  recruited and trained within the border region to the fullest
  extent possible.
         (b)  the unit chief may employ law-abiding citizens without a
  felony conviction to participate in unit operations and functions,
  but such persons may not have arresting authority unless trained
  and specifically authorized by the governor.
         (c)  The unit shall acquire equipment and facilities, and
  conduct training necessary to fulfill the operational,
  intelligence, communication, logistics, and administrative duties
  set forth by the unit chief to include land, air, and maritime
  responsibilities.
         (d)  The commission shall transfer existing personnel,
  equipment, and facilities to the unit from within the Department of
  Public Safety as necessary at the discretion of the commission
  while maintaining accountability and adequate support for all
  officers and activities within the commission's responsibility.
         Sec. 411.535.  AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. (a) An officer of the
  unit is governed by the law regulating and defining the powers and
  duties of sheriffs performing similar duties, except that the
  officer may make arrests and execute processes in a criminal case in
  any county.
         (b)  Within the State of Texas, officers of the unit may, to
  the extent consistent with the Constitution and federal law,
  arrest, detain, and deter individuals crossing the border
  illegally, including with the use of non-deadly force.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other law, the unit chief, and all
  officers and employees of the unit, as well as law-abiding citizens
  employed, to participate in unit operations under Section
  411.534(b), shall have immunity from criminal and civil liability
  for any actions taken that are authorized by this subchapter.
         Sec. 411.536.  CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF PHYSICAL
  BARRIERS. (a) The unit shall oversee the construction and
  maintenance of walls, fences, and other physical barriers along the
  border with Mexico in order to enhance the safety and security of
  Texans.
         (b)  The unit chief, or his designee, is authorized to
  negotiate and acquire the necessary right of way, leases,
  permissions, materials, and services needed to erect, and maintain
  physical barriers.
         (c)  The unit may use funds appropriated by the legislature,
  other government funds, or donations from United States citizens
  and domestic entities.
         Sec. 411.537.  ARTICLE I § 10 INVOCATION. (a) To the extent
  consistent with the United States and Texas constitutions and
  federal and state law, in the event that the legislature finds, or
  the governor has declared, or declares, a state of invasion or
  imminent danger under Article I § 10 of the U.S. Constitution, the
  unit chief shall be authorized to order the unit to take the
  following actions:
               (1)  deter and repel persons attempting to enter the
  State of Texas illegally at locations outside a port of entry, to
  the extent consistent with the United States and Texas
  constitutions and federal immigration laws;
               (2)  within the State of Texas, return aliens to Mexico
  who have been observed actually crossing the Mexican border
  illegally, and were apprehended or detained in the immediate
  vicinity of the border, to the extent consistent with the United
  States and Texas constitutions and federal immigration laws;
               (3)  use force to repel, arrest, and detain known
  transnational cartel operatives in the border region, to the extent
  consistent with the United States and Texas constitutions and
  federal immigration laws.
         Sec. 411.538.  QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be commissioned as an
  officer of the Border Protection Unit, a person must:
               (1)  be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident;
               (2)  be a graduate of a Texas police academy;
               (3)  have experience as a sworn law-enforcement officer
  in another state or federal law-enforcement agency; or
               (4)  be appointed or employed per the criteria provided
  in Section 411.534(b) of this Act.
         (b)  The border protection unit is an equal employment
  opportunity employer, and it may not discriminate against or give
  preferential treatment to any employee or job applicant on account
  of the individual's race, color, sex, national origin, or religion.
         Sec. 411.539.  TERM OF AUTHORIZATION. The unit is
  established upon passage of this act, subject to appropriations
  from the legislature, and shall continue in operation until
  December 31, 2030. The legislature shall reauthorize the unit
  prior to its sunset date or the entity is considered to be
  effectively abolished.
         Sec. 411.540.  RULEMAKING AUTHORITY. The unit chief of the
  unit may promulgate such substantive or procedural rules as may be
  required to carry out the general administration of the unit,
  including, but not limited to: procurement of facilities, training
  and equipment, and effectuation of personnel policies.
         Sec. 411.541.  OPERATIONAL PLAN TO COORDINATE BORDER
  SECURITY. (a) The unit shall develop and recommend to the governor
  and report to the legislature a strategic plan that establishes the
  framework for the budgeting and operation of the unit, including
  homeland security strategies, administered by assisting agencies.
  The unit shall annually report to the governor and the legislature
  on the implementation of the strategic plan.
         (b)  The unit shall include in the strategic plan goals,
  objectives, and performance measures that involve collaboration
  with other state agencies, and local entities.
         (c)  The unit shall create plans and conduct operations
  consistent with the strategic plan.
         (d)  The operational plan under this section shall evaluate 8
  U.S.C. § 1325(a) and other federal laws relating to the requirement
  that border crossings occur only at designated ports of entry.
         Sec. 411.542.  SEVERABILITY. (a) Mindful of Leavitt v. Jane
  L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the , 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the
  severability of a state statute the Supreme Court of the United
  States held that an explicit statement of legislative intent is
  controlling, it is the intent of the legislature that every
  provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word
  in this subchapter, and every application of the provisions in this
  subchapter to every person, group of persons, or circumstances, are
  severable from each other.
         (b)  If any application of any provision in this subchapter
  to any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a
  court to be invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, for any reason
  whatsoever, then the remaining applications of that provision to
  all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and preserved,
  and shall remain in effect. All constitutionally valid
  applications of the provisions in this subchapter shall be severed
  from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, preempted,
  or unconstitutional, because it is the legislature's intent and
  priority that every single valid application of every statutory
  provision be allowed to stand alone.
         (c)  The legislature further declares that it would have
  enacted this subchapter, and each provision, section, subsection,
  sentence, clause, phrase, or word, and all constitutional
  applications of the provisions of this subchapter, irrespective of
  the fact that any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause,
  phrase, or word, or applications of this subchapter were to be
  declared invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional.
         (d)  If any provision of this subchapter is found by any
  court to be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that
  provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems
  shall be severed and remain in force, consistent with the
  severability requirements of Subsections (a), (b), and (c).
         (e)  No court may decline to enforce the severability
  requirements of Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) on the ground
  that severance would "rewrite" the statute or involve the court in
  legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to
  enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory
  provision is never rewriting a statute or engaging in legislative
  or lawmaking activity, as the statute continues to contain the same
  words as before the court's decision. A judicial injunction or
  declaration of unconstitutionality:
               (1)  is nothing more than an edict prohibiting
  enforcement of the disputed statute against the named parties to
  that lawsuit, which may subsequently be vacated by a later court if
  that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the
  Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution or federal
  law;
               (2)  is not a formal amendment of the language in a
  statute; and
               (3)  no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the
  executive not to enforce a duly enacted statute in a limited and
  defined set of circumstances.
         (f)  If any state or federal court disregards any of the
  severability requirements in Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), or
  (e), and declares or finds any provision of this subchapter
  facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, when there are
  discrete applications of that provision that can be enforced
  against a person, group of persons, or circumstances without
  violating federal law or the federal or state constitutions, then
  that provision shall be interpreted, as a matter of state law, as if
  the legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons,
  group of persons, or circumstances for which the provision's
  application will not violate federal law or the federal or state
  constitutions, and every court shall adopt this saving construction
  of that provision until the court ruling that pronounced the
  provision facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional is
  vacated or overruled.
  ARTICLE 3. TRESPASS
         SECTION 3.01.  Chapter 30, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 30.08 to read as follows:
         Sec. 30.08.  TRESPASS WHILE ENTERING THE STATE OF TEXAS. (a)
  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly enters the
  property of another without effective consent when knowingly
  entering the state of Texas from a neighboring jurisdiction.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a third degree felony.
         (c)  A person who violates this section is subject to a civil
  penalty of not less than $10,000 for each violation. The attorney
  general may file an action to recover a civil penalty assessed under
  this section and may recover attorney's fees and costs incurred in
  bringing the action.
         (d)  The fact that conduct is subject to a civil or criminal
  penalty under this section does not abolish or impair any remedy for
  the conduct that is available in a civil suit.
         SECTION 3.02.  Section 17.44, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  A magistrate may require as a condition of release on
  bond that the defendant submit to:
               (1)  home confinement and electronic monitoring under
  the supervision of an agency designated by the magistrate; or
               (2)  testing on a weekly basis for the presence of a
  controlled substance in the defendant's body.
         (b)  In this article, "controlled substance" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 481.002, Health and Safety Code.
         (c)  A magistrate shall require as a condition of release on
  bond for someone arrested for the offense of Penal Code 30.08
  Trespass While Entering the State of Texas that the defendant
  submit to electronic monitoring unless the magistrate makes a
  finding that the defendant is not a flight risk.
         [(c)(d)  The magistrate may revoke the bond and order the
  defendant arrested if the defendant:
               (1)  violates a condition of home confinement and
  electronic monitoring;
               (2)  refuses to submit to a test for controlled
  substances or submits to a test for controlled substances and the
  test indicates the presence of a controlled substance in the
  defendant's body; or
               (3)  fails to pay the reimbursement fee for monitoring
  or testing for controlled substances, if payment is ordered under
  Subsection (e) as a condition of bond and the magistrate determines
  that the defendant is not indigent and is financially able to make
  the payments as ordered.
         [(d)(e)  The community justice assistance division of the
  Texas Department of Criminal Justice may provide grants to counties
  to implement electronic monitoring programs authorized by this
  article.
         [(e)(f)  The cost of electronic monitoring or testing for
  controlled substances under this article may be assessed as a
  reimbursement fee or ordered paid directly by the defendant as a
  condition of bond.
  ARTICLE 4. PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
         SECTION 4.01.  Subtitle D, Title 2, Health and Safety Code,
  is amended by adding Chapter 81B to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 81B. SUSPENSION OF ENTRY OF PERSONS FROM DESIGNATED PLACES
  TO PREVENT SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
         Sec. 81B.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus
  disease.
               (2)  "Federally declared public health emergency"
  means:
                     (A)  a public health emergency declared by the
  United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under 42
  U.S.C. Section 247d; or
                     (B)  an emergency or disaster declared, including
  under a renewal of the declaration, by the president of the United
  States in relation to a public health emergency described by
  Paragraph (A) under:
                           (i)  the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C.
  Section 1601 et seq.); or
                           (ii)  the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief
  and Emergency Assistant Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.).
               (3)  "Port of entry" means a port of entry in the United
  States, as defined by part 101 of the customs regulations (19 CFR
  part 101).
               (4)  "Person" means any individual other than:
                     (A)  one described in the first sentence of
  section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States
  Constitution; or
                     (B)  one described in 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(20).
         Sec. 81B.002.  SUSPENSION OF ENTRY. (a) To the extent
  consistent with the Constitution and federal immigration laws,
  during any of the following, all persons entering Texas by land from
  another country must pass through a legal port of entry for
  appropriate medical review:
               (1)  the pendency of any federally declared public
  health emergency for COVID-19,
               (2)  at any time which the federal government has in
  place any vaccination requirements for any person lawfully residing
  in the United States, including but not limited to government
  contractors or healthcare workers, for the purposes of preventing
  the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, or
               (3)  at any time which the U.S. Department of State has
  travel warnings for COVID-19 for any country from which citizens
  have illegally entered the United States during the most recent
  year for which there is available data.
         (b)  Any person who enters the State of Texas from a foreign
  country other than in accordance with Subsection (a), shall, to the
  extent consistent with the Constitution and federal immigration
  laws, be removed to the country from which they entered the United
  States, or their country of origin, or another location as
  practicable, as rapidly as possible, with as little time spent in
  congregate settings as practicable under the circumstances.
         Sec. 81B.003.  SEVERABILITY. (a) Mindful of Leavitt v. Jane
  L., 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the , 518 U.S. 137 (1996), in which in the context of determining the
  severability of a state statute the Supreme Court of the United
  States held that an explicit statement of legislative intent is
  controlling, it is the intent of the legislature that every
  provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word
  in this chapter, and every application of the provisions in this
  chapter to every person, group of persons, or circumstances, are
  severable from each other.
         (b)  If any application of any provision in this chapter to
  any person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court
  to be invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, for any reason
  whatsoever, then the remaining applications of that provision to
  all other persons and circumstances shall be severed and preserved,
  and shall remain in effect. All constitutionally valid
  applications of the provisions in this chapter shall be severed
  from any applications that a court finds to be invalid, preempted,
  or unconstitutional, because it is the legislature's intent and
  priority that every single valid application of every statutory
  provision be allowed to stand alone.
         (c)  The legislature further declares that it would have
  enacted this chapter, and each provision, section, subsection,
  sentence, clause, phrase, or word, and all constitutional
  applications of the provisions of this chapter, irrespective of the
  fact that any provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause,
  phrase, or word, or applications of this chapter were to be declared
  invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional.
         (d)  If any provision of this chapter is found by any court to
  be unconstitutionally vague, then the applications of that
  provision that do not present constitutional vagueness problems
  shall be severed and remain in force, consistent with the
  severability requirements of Subsections (a), (b), and (c).
         (e)  No court may decline to enforce the severability
  requirements of Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) on the ground
  that severance would "rewrite" the statute or involve the court in
  legislative or lawmaking activity. A court that declines to
  enforce or enjoins a state official from enforcing a statutory
  provision is never rewriting a statute or engaging in legislative
  or lawmaking activity, as the statute continues to contain the same
  words as before the court's decision. A judicial injunction or
  declaration of unconstitutionality:
               (1)  is nothing more than an edict prohibiting
  enforcement of the disputed statute against the named parties to
  that lawsuit, which may subsequently be vacated by a later court if
  that court has a different understanding of the requirements of the
  Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution or federal
  law;
               (2)  is not a formal amendment of the language in a
  statute; and
               (3)  no more rewrites a statute than a decision by the
  executive not to enforce a duly enacted statute in a limited and
  defined set of circumstances.
         (f)  If any state or federal court disregards any of the
  severability requirements in Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), or
  (e), and declares or finds any provision of this chapter facially
  invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional, when there are discrete
  applications of that provision that can be enforced against a
  person, group of persons, or circumstances without violating
  federal law or the federal or state constitutions, then that
  provision shall be interpreted, as a matter of state law, as if the
  legislature had enacted a provision limited to the persons, group
  of persons, or circumstances for which the provision's application
  will not violate federal law or the federal or state constitutions,
  and every court shall adopt this saving construction of that
  provision until the court ruling that pronounced the provision
  facially invalid, preempted, or unconstitutional is vacated or
  overruled.
  ARTICLE 5. LEGISLATIVE OVERSIGHT
         SECTION 5.01.  Subtitle C, Title 3, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 331 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 331. LEGISLATIVE BORDER SAFETY OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
         Sec. 331.001.  DEFINITION. In this section, "committee"
  means the legislative border safety oversight committee
  established under this chapter.
         Sec. 331.002.  ESTABLISHMENT; COMPOSITION. (a) The
  legislative border safety oversight committee is established to:
               (1)  provide objective research, analysis, and
  recommendations to help guide state border safety policies;
               (2)  provide oversight for the border protection unit
  established under Chapter C-1, Chapter 411; and
               (3)  perform other duties required by law.
         (b)  The committee consists of the following members:
               (1)  the lieutenant governor;
               (2)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (3)  four members of the senate appointed by the
  lieutenant governor; and
               (4)  four members of the house appointed by the
  speaker.
         (c)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
  representatives are joint chairs of the committee.
         (d)  A majority of the members of the committee from each
  house of the legislature constitutes a quorum to transact business.
  If a quorum is present, the committee may act on any matter within
  the committee's jurisdiction by a majority vote.
         (e)  The committee shall meet as often as necessary to
  perform the committee's duties. Meetings may be held at any time at
  the request of either chair or on written petition of a majority of
  the committee members from each house of the legislature.
         (f)  The committee shall meet in Austin, except that if a
  majority of the committee members from each house of the
  legislature agree, the committee may meet in any location
  determined by the committee.
         (g)  As an exception to Chapter 551, Government Code, and
  other law, for a meeting in Austin at which both joint chairs of the
  committee are physically present, any number of the other committee
  members may attend the meeting by use of telephone conference call,
  video conference call, or other similar telecommunication device.
  This subsection applies for purposes of establishing a quorum or
  voting or any other purpose allowing the members to fully
  participate in any committee meeting. This subsection applies
  without regard to the subject or topics considered by the members at
  the meeting.
         (h)  A committee meeting held by use of telephone conference
  call, video conference call, or other similar telecommunication
  device:
               (1)  is subject to the notice requirements applicable
  to other meetings;
               (2)  must specify in the notice of the meeting the
  location in Austin at which the joint chairs will be physically
  present;
               (3)  must be open to the public and audible to the
  public at the location specified in the notice under Subdivision
  (2); and
               (4)  must provide two-way audio communication between
  all committee members attending the meeting during the entire
  meeting, and if the two-way audio communication link with any
  member attending the meeting is disrupted at any time, the meeting
  may not continue until the two-way audio communication link is
  reestablished.
         Sec. 331.003.  POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The committee shall:
               (1)  use statistical analyses and other research
  methods to conduct an in-depth examination of border safety
  initiatives and programs in this state that includes:
                     (A)  an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of
  the use of state and local funds in ensuring border safety;
                     (B)  an identification of critical border safety
  problems; and
                     (C)  a determination of the state's long-range
  border safety needs;
               (2)  recommend to the legislature:
                     (A)  strategies to solve the problems identified
  under Subdivision (1)(B); and
                     (B)  policy priorities to address the long-range
  needs determined under Subdivision (1)(C); and
               (3)  advise and assist the legislature in developing
  plans, programs, and proposed legislation to improve the
  effectiveness of border safety initiatives and programs.
         (b)  The committee has all other powers and duties provided
  to a special committee by:
               (1)  Subchapter B, Chapter 301;
               (2)  the rules of the senate and the house of
  representatives; and
               (3)  policies of the senate and house committees on
  administration.
         Sec. 331.004.  STAFF; AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT. The committee
  may hire staff or may contract with universities or other suitable
  entities to assist the committee in carrying out the committee's
  duties. Funding to support the operation of the committee shall be
  provided from funds appropriated to the Texas Legislative Council.
         Sec. 328.005.  REPORT. Not later than January 1 of each
  odd-numbered year, the committee shall submit to the legislature a
  report that contains the recommendations described by Section
  331.003(a)(2).
  ARTICLE 6. SEVERABILITY; EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 6.01.  If any provision of this Act or its
  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this
  Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or
  application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are declared
  to be severable.
         SECTION 6.02.  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, 2023.