88R4519 EAS-D
 
  By: Schatzline H.B. No. 2576
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a database containing certain records of children who
  are not lawfully present in the United States.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter G-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER G-1. DATABASE CONTAINING CERTAIN RECORDS OF CHILDREN NOT
  LAWFULLY PRESENT IN UNITED STATES
         Sec. 411.161.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "child"
  means an individual who is younger than 18 years of age.
         Sec. 411.162.  FINGERPRINT RECORDS; INTERVIEWS.  (a)  An
  employee of the department who is working as part of Operation Lone
  Star or a successor operation conducted by the department shall:
               (1)  detain a child who the employee has reasonable
  suspicion to believe is not lawfully present in the United States;
               (2)  obtain a complete set of fingerprints from the
  child for purposes of including the fingerprint record in the
  database described by Section 411.163; and
               (3)  conduct a wellness interview with the child to
  ensure that the child is safe and not a victim of a trafficking
  offense, and contact other appropriate state entities if the child
  is not safe.
         (b)  An interview under Subsection (a)(3) must be conducted
  outside the presence of any person accompanying the child at the
  time the employee detains the child.
         (c)  A child may not be detained under this section for any
  period longer than necessary to satisfy the requirements of
  Subsections (a)(2) and (3).
         Sec. 411.163.  DATABASE. (a)  The department shall
  establish a database to store the records of fingerprints collected
  under Section 411.162 and other information regarding the child's
  identity and well-being.
         (b)  The department shall use the database to investigate the
  frequency with which a child described by Section 411.162 has
  entered the United States unlawfully through the international
  border with Mexico.
         (c)  The director shall establish best practices for the
  database.
         (d)  The department shall establish a process to ensure that
  a child's record is removed from the database as soon as practicable
  after a child is determined to be lawfully present in the United
  States or on the 15th anniversary of the initial inclusion of the
  record in the database, whichever date is earlier.
         Sec. 411.164.  ACCESS TO DATABASE. The director by rule
  shall establish procedures to:
               (1)  prevent unauthorized access to the database; and
               (2)  release information maintained in the database.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Department of Public Safety shall establish the
  database required by Subchapter G-1, Chapter 411, Government Code,
  as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.