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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the law enforcement authority of federal border patrol |
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agents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) In addition to the power granted under Subsection (c), |
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a Border Patrol Agent of the United States Customs and Border |
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Protection has the powers of arrest and search and seizure as to any |
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felony offense under the laws of this state, or any criminal offense |
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under federal law, committed within the boundaries of a county: |
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(1) adjacent to the Texas-Mexico border or the Gulf of |
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Mexico; |
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(2) adjacent to a county described by Subdivision (1); |
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or |
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(3) served by an attorney representing the state whose |
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jurisdiction includes a county described by Subdivision (1) or (2). |
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SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the office of the attorney general shall give written |
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notice to the commanding authority of each United States border |
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patrol sector in this state regarding the authority granted to |
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border patrol agents by this Act and the counties in that sector in |
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which this authority may be exercised. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |