Texas Senate Bill SB1572

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 5/9/11
• Introduced: 3/11/11
• Voted on by Senate: 5/12/11
• Refer: 3/23/11
• Out of House Committee: 5/21/11
• Report Pass: 5/9/11
• Engrossed: 5/12/11
• Refer: 5/16/11
• Report Pass: 5/19/11

Caption

Relating to the operations and monitoring of fusion centers in this state.

Impact

The proposed legislation will significantly enhance the oversight of fusion centers, mandating the Texas Department of Public Safety to adopt rules that establish uniform standards for operations. These rules will cover all aspects of fusion center activities, including intelligence gathering and information sharing, while ensuring compliance with laws designed to protect privacy and civil liberties. Moreover, the bill stipulates that fusion centers must undergo regular audits to validate their adherence to the appropriate standards, which aims to increase transparency and accountability in operations.

Summary

SB1572 addresses the operations and monitoring of fusion centers in Texas, aimed at improving state-level coordination for homeland security efforts. It focuses particularly on defining the concept of fusion centers as collaborative entities that merge resources and intelligence from multiple agencies to enhance detection, prevention, and response to criminal activities. The bill emphasizes the importance of having a clear set of operational guidelines and standards that these centers must adhere to, ensuring their activities align with both state and federal laws regarding privacy and individual rights.

Contention

There are potential points of contention regarding the delicate balance between enhancing security measures and protecting citizens’ privacy rights. Opponents of legislation like SB1572 often express concerns that increased surveillance and intelligence-sharing practices may infringe upon the rights of individuals, particularly if safeguards are not properly implemented. Furthermore, the formation of the Texas Fusion Center Policy Council and its authority raises questions about how operational independence of fusion centers will be balanced against state oversight, particularly regarding the audit processes and state grant funding.