89R14544 AJZ-F
 
  By: Darby H.B. No. 48
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention
  unit within the Department of Public Safety.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter C-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C-1. ORGANIZED OILFIELD THEFT PREVENTION UNIT
         Sec. 411.035.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Oil and gas equipment" means machinery, drilling
  equipment, welding equipment, pipe, fittings, pumps, vehicles, or
  other equipment used in the drilling or maintenance of oil and gas
  wells, in the production of oil and gas, or to transport petroleum
  products.
               (2)  "Petroleum product" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 31.19(a), Penal Code.
               (3)  "Unit" means the organized oilfield theft
  prevention unit established under this subchapter.
         Sec. 411.036.  ORGANIZED OILFIELD THEFT PREVENTION UNIT.
  (a)  The director shall create an organized oilfield theft
  prevention unit to be operated by the department.
         (b)  The unit shall investigate and arrest individuals
  determined to have committed an offense under:
               (1)  Section 31.19, Penal Code; or
               (2)  Section 31.03, Penal Code, if the unlawfully
  appropriated property includes oil and gas equipment.
         (c)  The unit shall coordinate with federal, state, and local
  law enforcement agencies, attorneys representing the state, the
  Railroad Commission of Texas, and any person who is a victim of an
  offense described by Subsection (b) as necessary to carry out the
  duties of the unit.
         (d)  The director shall designate a command structure within
  the department to supervise the operations of the unit.
         (e)  The director shall adopt rules, subject to commission
  approval, as necessary for the control and general administration
  of the unit, including rules:
               (1)  governing the procurement of facilities and
  equipment for the unit;
               (2)  regarding required training for unit personnel;
  and
               (3)  regarding working conditions of unit personnel.
         Sec. 411.037.  JURISDICTION; HEADQUARTERS. The unit has
  statewide jurisdiction but shall operate primarily within the
  designated region of the department that is adjacent to the
  international border and contains the city of El Paso. The unit's
  headquarters must be located in that region.
         Sec. 411.038.  UNIT DUTIES. The unit, together with the
  department, shall:
               (1)  develop and deploy to local law enforcement
  agencies specialized training, resources, and policing strategies
  tailored to investigating and preventing offenses described by
  Section 411.036(b);
               (2)  conduct public outreach and awareness initiatives
  to educate industry professionals and communities regarding
  offenses described by Section 411.036(b); and
               (3)  maintain a centralized database for tracking
  offenses described by Section 411.036(b) and related criminal
  enterprises.
         Sec. 411.039.  BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than January 1 of
  each odd-numbered year, the department shall prepare and submit to
  the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
  representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature
  with primary jurisdiction over natural resources or criminal
  justice matters a written report that:
               (1)  summarizes the unit's activities and evaluates the
  unit's effectiveness during the preceding two-year period,
  including by providing statistics regarding any arrests made by the
  unit and any prosecutions that resulted from those arrests or
  assets that were recovered as a result of those arrests; and
               (2)  provides recommendations for legislative or
  administrative action to improve the effectiveness of the unit.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 1, 2025, the public
  safety director of the Department of Public Safety of the State of
  Texas shall adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter C-1,
  Chapter 411, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2025.