By: Perez (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 2087
         (In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
  May 4, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Criminal
  Justice; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
 
  COMMITTEE VOTE
 
 
         YeaNayAbsentPNV
         WhitmireX
         FloresX
         BettencourtX
         HinojosaX
         HuffmanX
         KingX
         MilesX
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the financial crimes intelligence center.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 2312.001, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivisions (4-a) and (4-b) and amending Subdivision (5)
  to read as follows:
               (4-a)  "Motor fuel manipulation device" means a
  mechanism manufactured, assembled, or adapted to manipulate or
  alter a motor fuel metering device or a motor fuel unattended
  payment terminal for an unlawful purpose.
               (4-b)  "Motor fuel theft" means an act that:
                     (A)  constitutes an offense under Section 31.03,
  Penal Code; and
                     (B)  qualifies for an affirmative finding of motor
  fuel theft under Article 42.019, Code of Criminal Procedure.
               (5)  "Skimmer" means an electronic, mechanical, or
  other device that may be used to unlawfully intercept electronic
  communications or data to perpetrate card fraud. The term includes
  a credit card shimmer.
         SECTION 2.  Section 2312.052, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 2312.052.  PURPOSES OF CENTER. The purposes of the
  center are to:
               (1)  serve as the state's primary entity for the
  planning, coordination, and integration of law enforcement
  agencies and other governmental agencies that respond to criminal
  activity related to card fraud, including through the use of
  skimmers, and motor fuel theft; and
               (2)  maximize the ability of the department, law
  enforcement agencies, and other governmental agencies to detect,
  prevent, and respond to criminal activities related to card fraud
  and motor fuel theft.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2312.054, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The center shall assist law enforcement agencies, other
  governmental agencies, financial institutions, credit card
  issuers, debit card issuers, payment card networks, institutions of
  higher education, and merchants in their efforts to develop and
  implement strategies to:
               (1)  detect skimmers and motor fuel manipulation
  devices;
               (2)  ensure an effective response if a skimmer or motor
  fuel manipulation device is found; and
               (3)  prevent card fraud and motor fuel theft.
         (b-1)  On request of a law enforcement or other governmental
  agency, the center may provide assistance to that agency regarding
  any matter within the center's expertise.
         (c)  The center may:
               (1)  serve as a centralized collection point for
  information related to card fraud and motor fuel theft;
               (2)  provide training and educational opportunities to
  law enforcement;
               (3)  provide outreach to the public; and
               (4)  release information to affected financial
  institutions, credit card issuers, debit card issuers, payment card
  networks, institutions of higher education, and merchants if the
  center does not consider the information to be sensitive to law
  enforcement.
         SECTION 4.  Section 2312.055(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The report must include:
               (1)  a plan of operation for the center and an estimate
  of the amount of money necessary to implement that plan;
               (2)  an assessment of the current state of card fraud
  and motor fuel theft in this state, including:
                     (A)  an identification of the geographic
  locations in this state that have the highest statistical
  probability for card fraud and motor fuel theft; and
                     (B)  a summary of card fraud and motor fuel theft
  statistics for the year in which the report is filed;
               (3)  a detailed plan of operation for combatting card
  fraud and motor fuel theft;
               (4)  a communications plan for outreach to law
  enforcement agencies, financial institutions, credit card issuers,
  debit card issuers, payment card networks, merchants, and the
  public; and
               (5)  a list of expenditures made since the most recent
  report was filed with the department.
         SECTION 5.  Section 2312.102(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A grant recipient may use grant money to:
               (1)  reduce card fraud by removing skimmers;
               (2)  purchase or upgrade fraud deterrence equipment,
  including unique locking systems, cameras, and lights;
               (3)  provide training opportunities regarding
  skimmers; and
               (4)  conduct public outreach regarding card fraud and
  motor fuel theft.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
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