By: Sparks S.B. No. 1320

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Organized Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit within the Texas 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 AA to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER AA: ORGANIZED OILFIELD THEFT PREVENTION UNIT

Sec. 411.6. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "unit" means the Organized Oilfield Theft Prevention Unit;

(2) "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; and

(3) "petroleum product" has the meaning assigned by Section 31.19(a), Penal Code.

(4) "organized oilfield theft" means any offense committed under:

(A) Section 31.19, Penal Code; or

(B) Section 31.03, Penal Code, when the unlawfully appropriated property contains oil and gas equipment.

Sec. 411.61. ORGANIZED OILFIELD THEFT PREVENTION UNIT. (a) The director shall create an organized oilfield theft prevention unit to be operated by the department.

(b) The organized oilfield theft prevention 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, when the unlawfully appropriated property contains oil and gas equipment.

(c) The unit shall coordinate with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and any persons or entities who are the victim of an offense described by Subsection (b) for the purposes of fulfilling the unit's duties under this Subchapter.

(d) The director shall designate a command structure within the department to oversee the operations of the unit and ensure collaboration with all entities, as described by Subsection (c).

(e) The director shall adopt rules, subject to commission approval, considered necessary for the control and general administration of the unit, including rules governing the procurement of facilities and equipment for the unit and the training and working conditions for unit personnel.

Sec. 411.62. PRIMARY JURISDICTION. The unit shall be headquartered and primarily operate in Region 4 of the department's designated regions.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the unit from carrying out the duties prescribed under this Subchapter in the boundaries of another department designated region.

Sec. 411.63. ADDITIONAL DUTIES. (a) In addition to the duties described under Section 411.61(b) and (c), the unit, in conjunction with the department, shall:

(1) develop and deploy specialized training, resources, policing strategies tailored to investigating and preventing organized oilfield theft to local law enforcement;

(2) conduct public outreach and awareness initiatives to educate industry professionals and communities on organized oilfield theft prevention; and

(3) maintain a centralized database for tracking organized oilfield theft incidents and related criminal enterprises.

Sec. 411.64. BIENNIAL REPORT. (a) No later than January 1 of each odd numbered year, the department shall submit a biennial report to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house, and all relevant legislative committees detailing:

(1) the unit's activities and effectiveness, including statistics on the unit's arrests, prosecutions, and recovered assets; and

(2) legislative or administrative recommendations to improve the efficacy of the unit.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the commission shall adopt all rules necessary to implement and administer 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.