| 1 | 1 | | 81R9841 BEF-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Kuempel H.B. No. 2862 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the Texas Rangers' Unsolved Crimes Investigation Team. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter J, Chapter 411, |
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| 10 | 10 | | Government Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SUBCHAPTER J. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION PROGRAM [TEAM] |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 2. Section 411.262, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 13 | 13 | | read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | Sec. 411.262. UNSOLVED CRIMES INVESTIGATION PROGRAM |
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| 15 | 15 | | [TEAM]. (a) The unsolved crimes investigation program [team] is an |
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| 16 | 16 | | investigative program [investigatory unit] within the department. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) The program is a function [team will be located at the |
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| 18 | 18 | | headquarters] of the Texas Rangers [in Austin, Texas,] and will be |
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| 19 | 19 | | commanded by the chief of the Texas Rangers. |
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| 20 | 20 | | (c) The director may employ commissioned peace officers and |
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| 21 | 21 | | noncommissioned employees to perform duties required of the program |
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| 22 | 22 | | [team]. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (d) To be eligible for employment under this section, a |
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| 24 | 24 | | peace officer must be a sergeant or higher-ranked officer of the |
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| 25 | 25 | | Texas Rangers and must have [not less than four years of experience |
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| 26 | 26 | | as a peace officer and: |
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| 27 | 27 | | [(1) a degree from an accredited institution of higher |
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| 28 | 28 | | education in law, accounting, or computer science; or |
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| 29 | 29 | | [(2)] two or more years of experience in the |
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| 30 | 30 | | investigation of homicides or other major felonies. |
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| 31 | 31 | | (e) To be eligible for employment under this section, a |
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| 32 | 32 | | noncommissioned employee must meet the experience, training, and |
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| 33 | 33 | | educational qualifications set by the director as requirements for |
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| 34 | 34 | | investigating or assisting in the investigation of an unsolved |
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| 35 | 35 | | crime. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. Section 411.263, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 37 | 37 | | read as follows: |
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| 38 | 38 | | Sec. 411.263. ASSISTANCE ON REQUEST. On the request of an |
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| 39 | 39 | | attorney representing the state and with the approval of the |
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| 40 | 40 | | director, employees of the unsolved crimes investigation program |
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| 41 | 41 | | [team] of the department may assist local law enforcement in the |
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| 42 | 42 | | investigation of crime. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 44 | 44 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 45 | 45 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 46 | 46 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 47 | 47 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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