By: Guillen, Raymond, Morales of Maverick, H.B. No. 3782
      Muñoz, Jr., Lopez of Cameron, et al.
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing the Border Security Advisory Council and
  the Border Protection Task Force.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1.  BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL
         SECTION 1.01.  Subchapter B-1, Chapter 421, Government Code,
  is amended by adding Section 421.0425 to read as follows:
         Sec. 421.0425.  BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The
  Border Security Advisory Council is a permanent special advisory
  committee created to advise the legislature and the governor or the
  governor's designee on homeland security issues impacting the
  security of the Texas-Mexico border and on streamlining statewide
  border security activities and initiatives.
         (b)  The council is composed of:
               (1)  the lieutenant governor;
               (2)  the speaker of the house of representatives;
               (3)  four senators appointed by the lieutenant governor
  who collectively meet the following requirements:
                     (A)  two senators must be members of the political
  party with the most members in the senate and two senators must be
  members of the political party with the second most members in the
  senate;
                     (B)  two senators must represent senatorial
  districts located in the border region; and
                     (C)  one senator must be the chair of the senate
  standing committee with primary jurisdiction over border security
  issues;
               (4)  four members of the house of representatives
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives who
  collectively meet the following requirements:
                     (A)  two representatives must be members of the
  political party with the most members in the house and two
  representatives must be members of the political party with the
  second most members in the house;
                     (B)  two representatives must represent house
  districts located in the border region; and
                     (C)  one representative must be the chair of the
  house standing committee with primary jurisdiction over border
  security issues;
               (5)  as nonvoting members, the executive head of or a
  designee from each of the following:
                     (A)  Department of Public Safety;
                     (B)  Texas Military Department;
                     (C)  Texas Division of Emergency Management;
                     (D)  Parks and Wildlife Department;
                     (E)  Texas Department of Criminal Justice; and
                     (F)  Office of Court Administration of the Texas
  Judicial System;
               (6)  as a nonvoting member, the presiding officer of
  the border prosecution unit established under Section 772.052;
               (7)  the following nonvoting members appointed by the
  governor or the governor's designee:
                     (A)  one representative of a county located in the
  border region, other than a sheriff;
                     (B)  one sheriff of a county located in the border
  region;
                     (C)  one representative of a municipality located
  in the border region, other than a municipal police chief;
                     (D)  one police chief of a municipality located in
  the border region; and
                     (E)  one representative of the business community
  involved in international trade across the Texas-Mexico border; and
               (8)  other nonvoting members as determined by the
  governor or the governor's designee.
         (c)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
  representatives are joint chairs of the council.
         (d)  A majority of the voting members of the council
  constitutes a quorum to transact business. If a quorum is present,
  the council may act on any matter within the council's jurisdiction
  by a majority vote.
         (e)  The council shall meet as often as necessary to perform
  the council's duties. Meetings may be held at any time at the
  request of either chair.
         (f)  As an exception to Chapter 551 and other law, for a
  meeting at which both joint chairs of the council are physically
  present, any number of the other council members may attend the
  meeting by use of telephone conference call, video conference call,
  or other similar technology. This subsection applies for purposes
  of establishing a quorum or voting or for any other purpose allowing
  the members to fully participate in any council meeting. This
  subsection applies without regard to the subject or topics
  considered by the members at the meeting.
         (g)  A council meeting held by use of telephone conference
  call, video conference call, or other similar technology:
               (1)  is subject to the notice requirements applicable
  to other meetings;
               (2)  must specify in the notice of the meeting the
  location 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 council 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.
         (h)  In addition to the duties under Section 421.045, the
  council 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 and the governor:
                     (A)  strategies to solve the problems identified
  under Subdivision (1)(B);
                     (B)  policy priorities to address the long-range
  needs determined under Subdivision (1)(C); and
                     (C)  measures based on objective research and
  analysis to help guide state border safety policies;
               (3)  advise the legislature and the governor regarding:
                     (A)  coordinating the goals and responsibilities
  for border security efforts of local and state agencies with
  jurisdiction over border security;
                     (B)  developing procedures for streamlining
  decision-making of local and state agencies with jurisdiction over
  border security; and
                     (C)  improving transparency of border security
  operations; and
               (4)  advise and assist the legislature and the governor
  in developing plans, programs, and proposed legislation to improve
  the effectiveness of border safety initiatives and programs.
         (i)  The council may hire staff or may contract with
  universities or other suitable entities to assist the council in
  carrying out the council's duties. Funding to support the
  operation of the council shall be provided from funds appropriated
  to the Texas Legislative Council.
         (j)  Not later than January 1 of each odd-numbered year, the
  council shall submit to the legislature and the governor a report
  that contains the recommendations described by Subsection (h)(2).
         SECTION 1.02.  Section 421.044, Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 421.044.  COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES
  PROHIBITED. (a) A person who is a member of a permanent special
  advisory committee created under this subchapter is not entitled to
  receive:
               (1)  compensation from this state for service on the
  committee; or
               (2)  except as provided by Subsection (b), travel
  expenses incurred by the person while conducting the business of
  the committee.
         (b)  A member of the Border Security Advisory Council created
  under Section 421.0425 is entitled to travel expenses described by
  Subsection (a)(2) as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
  ARTICLE 2. BORDER PROTECTION TASK FORCE
         SECTION 2.01.  Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Art. 2.12.  WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. The following are peace
  officers:
               (1)  sheriffs, their deputies, and those reserve
  deputies who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under
  Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
               (2)  constables, deputy constables, and those reserve
  deputy constables who hold a permanent peace officer license issued
  under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
               (3)  marshals or police officers of an incorporated
  city, town, or village, and those reserve municipal police officers
  who hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter
  1701, Occupations Code;
               (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;
               (5)  investigators of the district attorneys', criminal
  district attorneys', and county attorneys' offices;
               (6)  law enforcement agents of the Texas Alcoholic
  Beverage Commission;
               (7)  each member of an arson investigating unit
  commissioned by a city, a county, or the state;
               (8)  officers commissioned under Section 37.081,
  Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;
               (9)  officers commissioned by the General Services
  Commission;
               (10)  law enforcement officers commissioned by the
  Parks and Wildlife Commission;
               (11)  officers commissioned under Chapter 23,
  Transportation Code;
               (12)  municipal park and recreational patrolmen and
  security officers;
               (13)  security officers and investigators commissioned
  as peace officers by the comptroller;
               (14)  officers commissioned by a water control and
  improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
               (15)  officers commissioned by a board of trustees
  under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
               (16)  investigators commissioned by the Texas Medical
  Board;
               (17)  officers commissioned by:
                     (A)  the board of managers of the Dallas County
  Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar
  County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District
  under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;
                     (B)  the board of directors of the Ector County
  Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local
  Laws Code;
                     (C)  the board of directors of the Midland County
  Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,
  Special District Local Laws Code; and
                     (D)  the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock
  County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section
  1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;
               (18)  county park rangers commissioned under
  Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
               (19)  investigators employed by the Texas Racing
  Commission;
               (20)  officers commissioned under Chapter 554,
  Occupations Code;
               (21)  officers commissioned by the governing body of a
  metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,
  Transportation Code, or by a regional transportation authority
  under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
               (22)  investigators commissioned by the attorney
  general under Section 402.009, Government Code;
               (23)  security officers and investigators commissioned
  as peace officers under Chapter 466, Government Code;
               (24)  officers appointed by an appellate court under
  Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
               (25)  officers commissioned by the state fire marshal
  under Chapter 417, Government Code;
               (26)  an investigator commissioned by the commissioner
  of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;
               (27)  apprehension specialists and inspectors general
  commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as officers
  under Sections 242.102 and 243.052, Human Resources Code;
               (28)  officers appointed by the inspector general of
  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,
  Government Code;
               (29)  investigators commissioned by the Texas
  Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations
  Code;
               (30)  commission investigators commissioned by the
  Texas Private Security Board under Section 1702.061, Occupations
  Code;
               (31)  the fire marshal and any officers, inspectors, or
  investigators commissioned by an emergency services district under
  Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;
               (32)  officers commissioned by the State Board of
  Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject
  to the limitations imposed by that section;
               (33)  investigators commissioned by the Texas Juvenile
  Justice Department as officers under Section 221.011, Human
  Resources Code; [and]
               (34)  the fire marshal and any related officers,
  inspectors, or investigators commissioned by a county under
  Subchapter B, Chapter 352, Local Government Code; and
               (35)  officers of the Border Protection Task Force
  commissioned by the task force chief under Section 425.054,
  Government Code.
         SECTION 2.02.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 425 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 425. BORDER PROTECTION TASK FORCE
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 425.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Alien" has the meaning assigned by 8 U.S.C.
  Section 1101.
               (2)  "Border region" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 772.0071.
               (3)  "Chief" means the chief of the task force.
               (4)  "Governing body" means the governing body of the
  state agency selected under Section 425.002.
               (5)  "Local government" means a municipality, county,
  special purpose district, or other political subdivision of this
  state.
               (6)  "Port of entry" means a port or place designated by
  the United States Department of Homeland Security at which an alien
  may apply to the department for admission into the United States.
               (7)  "State agency" means a board, commission,
  department, office, or other agency in the executive branch of
  state government.
               (8)  "Task force" means the Border Protection Task
  Force established under this chapter.
         Sec. 425.002.  BORDER SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL TO RECOMMEND
  STATE AGENCY FOR BORDER PROTECTION TASK FORCE. (a)  The Border
  Security Advisory Council established under Section 421.0425 shall
  provide to the governor a list of recommendations for the state
  agency that will establish the Border Protection Task Force.
         (b)  The governor shall select from the list under Subsection
  (a) the state agency that will establish the Border Protection Task
  Force.
         Sec. 425.003.  BORDER PROTECTION TASK FORCE ESTABLISHED.
  (a) The governing body of the state agency selected under Section
  425.002 shall establish the Border Protection Task Force as a
  division within the agency to provide cross-functional expertise to
  border protection operations and improve efficiency and
  effectiveness of the border protection operations of the state
  agencies and political subdivisions of this state.
         (b)  The governing body shall appoint, with the approval of
  the governor, a chief of the task force.
         (c)  The chief serves at the will of the governing body.
         Sec. 425.004.  TERM OF AUTHORIZATION. (a) The task force is
  subject to appropriations from the legislature and continues in
  existence until September 1, 2031, unless reauthorized by the
  legislature.
         (b)  This chapter expires September 1, 2031.
         Sec. 425.005.  HEADQUARTERS; REGIONAL OFFICES. The task
  force must be headquartered in the border region. The task force may
  establish regional offices along the Texas-Mexico border.
         Sec. 425.006.  CONSOLIDATION OF STATE AGENCY BORDER
  OPERATIONS. (a)  The chief shall identify resources the task force
  needs to conduct border protection operations, including
  personnel, equipment, and facilities owned or controlled by state
  agencies that conduct border protection operations under Operation
  Lone Star.  The chief may identify any resources dedicated to border
  security that are owned or controlled by: 
               (1)  the office of the governor;
               (2)  the office of the attorney general;
               (3)  the Department of Public Safety;
               (4)  the Texas Military Department;
               (5)  the Parks and Wildlife Department;
               (6)  the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
               (7)  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;
               (8)  the Texas Commission on Jail Standards;
               (9)  the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement;
               (10)  the Office of Court Administration of the Texas
  Judicial System;
               (11)  the Department of State Health Services;
               (12)  the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles;
               (13)  the Texas Division of Emergency Management;
               (14)  the State Soil and Water Conservation Board; and
               (15)  any other state agency designated by the
  governor.
         (b)  Each state agency that owns or controls resources
  identified under Subsection (a) shall dedicate those resources to
  the task force and its duties.
         Sec. 425.007.  REIMBURSEMENT FOR STATE USE OF LOCAL
  GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.  (a)  The chief shall identify resources the
  task force needs to conduct border protection operations, including
  personnel, equipment, and facilities owned or controlled by local
  governments that conduct border protection operations along the
  Texas-Mexico border.
         (b)  A local government that owns or controls resources
  identified under Subsection (a) may by written agreement with the
  task force dedicate those resources to the task force and its
  duties.
         (c)  A local government that dedicates resources to the task
  force under this section is entitled to reimbursement for the use of
  those resources as provided by the written agreement under
  Subsection (b) and the General Appropriations Act.
         Sec. 425.0071.  EMPLOYMENT OF DEDICATED PERSONNEL;
  COOPERATIVE WORK. (a) A person who is dedicated to the task force
  under Section 425.006 or 425.007 remains an employee of the
  assigning state agency or local government but the person may be
  assigned duties by the chief.
         (b)  A person who is dedicated to the task force shall work
  cooperatively with employees of the task force and other persons
  dedicated to the task force under the guidance of the chief to
  achieve efficiency in efforts by state agencies and local
  governments to enforce the law in the border region.
         Sec. 425.0072.  COOPERATION WITH BORDER PROSECUTION UNIT.
  (a) In this section, "border prosecution unit" means the border
  prosecution unit established under Section 772.052.
         (b)  The task force shall cooperate with the border
  prosecution unit to carry out the duties of the task force and the
  unit.
         (c)  The border prosecution unit as needed may assign a
  prosecutor from the unit to the task force headquarters or any
  regional office of the task force.
         Sec. 425.008.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS.  The task force
  may accept gifts, grants, and donations from any source, including
  private and nonprofit organizations, for the purposes of
  implementing this chapter.
         Sec. 425.009.  FEDERAL AND LOCAL COOPERATION. The task
  force shall coordinate with any federal agency or any local
  government as necessary to carry out the duties of the task force.
  SUBCHAPTER B. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 425.051.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF CHIEF; RULES.
  (a)  The chief shall: 
               (1)  formulate plans and policies for the protection of
  the citizens of this state in the Texas-Mexico border region,
  including the air, maritime, and land borders of this state;
               (2)  organize the task force and supervise its
  operation;
               (3)  maintain records of all task force proceedings and
  official orders; and
               (4)  biennially submit a report of the task force's
  operations to the governor and legislature.
         (b)  The chief is directly responsible to the governing body
  for the conduct of the task force and shall act as the chief
  administrative officer of the task force.
         (c)  The chief, with the approval of the governing body, may
  adopt rules necessary to carry out the duties of the task force,
  including rules for procuring equipment and facilities, providing
  training, and adopting policies governing the personnel of the task
  force.
         Sec. 425.052.  OPERATIONAL PLAN TO COORDINATE BORDER
  PROTECTION. (a) The chief or the chief's designee shall develop and
  recommend to the governor, the legislature, and the governing body
  a strategic plan that establishes the framework for the budgeting
  and operations of the task force, including homeland security
  strategies, to be administered by the task force and state agencies
  that provide assistance to the task force.
         (b)  The strategic plan under Subsection (a) must include:
               (1)  goals and performance measures that involve
  collaboration with other state agencies and local governments; and
               (2)  an evaluation of 8 U.S.C. Section 1325(a) and
  other federal laws relating to the requirement that the admission
  of aliens into the United States occur only at ports of entry.
         (c)  The chief shall annually report to the governor, the
  legislature, and the governing body on the implementation of the
  strategic plan.
         Sec. 425.053.  DEPUTY CHIEFS. The chief, with the approval
  of the governing body, may appoint deputy chiefs and regional
  commanders to oversee the regional offices authorized by Section
  425.005.
         Sec. 425.054.  OFFICERS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES. (a) The chief
  may commission, with the approval of the governing body, officers
  of the task force as peace officers.
         (b)  The chief may hire any employees as necessary to carry
  out the duties of the task force.
         Sec. 425.055.  QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be a commissioned
  officer of the task force, a person must hold or obtain a peace
  officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
         (b)  To be a noncommissioned officer of the task force, a
  person must meet the qualifications set by the chief by rule.
         (c)  The chief may provide by rule for the qualifications of
  any other employees of the task force.
         (d)  The task force is an equal employment opportunity
  employer, and the task force 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. 425.056.  TRAINING. The task force shall acquire
  equipment and facilities and conduct training necessary to carry
  out the operational, intelligence, communication, logistics, and
  administrative duties of the task force, including land, air, and
  maritime responsibilities. The task force shall conduct the
  training in the border region.
         Sec. 425.057.  AUTHORITY OF DEDICATED PERSONNEL. (a)  A
  person dedicated to the task force and its duties under Section
  425.006 or 425.007 retains the authority of the office held by the
  person with the dedicating state agency or local government and may
  exercise any powers granted to the task force under this chapter
  with the approval of the chief.
         (b)  The governing body, with the approval of the governor,
  may assign the person additional duties consistent with the duties
  of the task force under this chapter.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, a
  person dedicated to the task force may not be granted any powers or
  authority that exceeds the powers or authority granted by other law
  to the office held by the person with the dedicating state agency or
  local government.
         Sec. 425.058.  USE OF DEDICATED PROPERTY. Any property,
  including equipment or facilities, dedicated to the task force and
  its duties under Section 425.006 or 425.007 may be used for the
  purposes of the dedicating state agency or local government or the
  purposes of the task force.
  ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 3.01.  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.