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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the use of fiber-optic technology for the |
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purpose of border security. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Department" means the Department of Public Safety |
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of the State of Texas. |
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(2) "State agency" means a board, commission, |
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department, office, or other agency in the executive branch of |
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state government that was created by the constitution or a statute |
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of this state, including an institution of higher education as |
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defined by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The department shall conduct a study |
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on the feasibility of using fiber-optic technology along the |
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Texas-Mexico border for the purposes of border security. The study |
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must consider: |
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(1) the costs and methods of implementing fiber-optic |
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technology, including installation and maintenance; |
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(2) the effectiveness of fiber-optic technology as a |
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border security tool; and |
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(3) the possibility of contracting with one or more |
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private entities to implement a fiber-optic border security |
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program. |
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(b) The department may collaborate with any state agency or |
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council of government the department determines relevant to conduct |
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the study. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2024, the |
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department shall submit to the governor, lieutenant governor, |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and each standing |
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committee of the legislature having primary jurisdiction over |
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border security or fiber-optic technology a report on the results |
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of the study conducted under Section 2 of this Act. The report must |
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include: |
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(1) an assessment of the feasibility of implementing |
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fiber-optic technology along the Texas-Mexico border as a border |
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security tool, including: |
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(A) costs related to implementing fiber-optic |
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technology, including installation and maintenance; |
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(B) the effectiveness of fiber-optic technology |
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in differentiating between animals, individuals, vehicles, or |
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other animate or inanimate objects crossing the border; and |
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(C) barriers or advantages to specific methods of |
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installation or maintenance of fiber-optic technology along the |
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Texas-Mexico border; and |
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(2) a recommendation by the department on whether: |
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(A) this state should implement a border security |
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program using fiber-optic technology; and |
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(B) a fiber-optic border security program would |
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best be managed by a state agency or one or more private entities |
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through a contract. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2023. |