S.B. No. 4
AN ACT
relating to the enforcement by campus police departments and
certain local governmental entities of state and federal laws
governing immigration and to related duties and liability of
certain persons in the criminal justice system; providing a civil
penalty; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. POLICIES OF AND GRANT PROGRAMS FOR LOCAL ENTITIES AND
CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS
SECTION 1.01. Chapter 752, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter C to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C. ENFORCEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS BY
LOCAL ENTITIES AND CAMPUS POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Sec. 752.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Campus police department" means a law enforcement
agency of an institution of higher education.
(2) "Immigration laws" means the laws of this state or
federal law relating to aliens, immigrants, or immigration,
including the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
Section 1101 et seq.).
(3) "Institution of higher education" means:
(A) an institution of higher education as defined
by Section 61.003, Education Code; or
(B) a private or independent institution of
higher education as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(4) "Lawful detention" means the detention of an
individual by a local entity, state criminal justice agency, or
campus police department for the investigation of a criminal
offense. The term excludes a detention if the sole reason for the
detention is that the individual:
(A) is a victim of or witness to a criminal
offense; or
(B) is reporting a criminal offense.
(5) "Local entity" means:
(A) the governing body of a municipality, county,
or special district or authority, subject to Section 752.052;
(B) an officer or employee of or a division,
department, or other body that is part of a municipality, county, or
special district or authority, including a sheriff, municipal
police department, municipal attorney, or county attorney; and
(C) a district attorney or criminal district
attorney.
(6) "Policy" includes a formal, written rule, order,
ordinance, or policy and an informal, unwritten policy.
Sec. 752.052. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This
subchapter does not apply to a hospital or hospital district
created under Subtitle C or D, Title 4, Health and Safety Code, a
federally qualified health center as defined in Section 31.017,
Health and Safety Code, a hospital owned or operated by an
institution of higher education, or a hospital district created
under a general or special law authorized by Article IX, Texas
Constitution, to the extent that the hospital or hospital district
is providing access to or delivering medical or health care
services as required under the following applicable federal or
state laws:
(1) 42 U.S.C. Section 1395dd;
(2) 42 U.S.C. Section 1396b(v);
(3) Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code;
(4) Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code; and
(5) Section 311.022, Health and Safety Code.
(b) Subsection (a) excludes the application of this
subchapter to a commissioned peace officer:
(1) employed by a hospital or hospital district during
the officer's employment; or
(2) commissioned by a hospital or hospital district.
(c) This subchapter does not apply to a commissioned peace
officer employed or contracted by a religious organization during
the officer's employment with the organization or while the officer
is performing the contract.
(d) This subchapter does not apply to a school district or
open-enrollment charter school, including a peace officer employed
or contracted by a district or charter school during the officer's
employment with the district or charter school or while the officer
is performing the contract. This subchapter does not apply to the
release of information contained in educational records of an
educational agency or institution, except in conformity with the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
Section 1232g).
(e) This subchapter does not apply to the public health
department of a local entity.
(f) This subchapter does not apply to:
(1) a community center as defined by Section 571.003,
Health and Safety Code; or
(2) a local mental health authority as defined by
Section 531.002, Health and Safety Code.
Sec. 752.053. POLICIES AND ACTIONS REGARDING IMMIGRATION
ENFORCEMENT. (a) A local entity or campus police department may
not:
(1) adopt, enforce, or endorse a policy under which
the entity or department prohibits or materially limits the
enforcement of immigration laws;
(2) as demonstrated by pattern or practice, prohibit
or materially limit the enforcement of immigration laws; or
(3) for an entity that is a law enforcement agency or
for a department, as demonstrated by pattern or practice,
intentionally violate Article 2.251, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(b) In compliance with Subsection (a), a local entity or
campus police department may not prohibit or materially limit a
person who is a commissioned peace officer described by Article
2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, a corrections officer, a booking
clerk, a magistrate, or a district attorney, criminal district
attorney, or other prosecuting attorney and who is employed by or
otherwise under the direction or control of the entity or
department from doing any of the following:
(1) inquiring into the immigration status of a person
under a lawful detention or under arrest;
(2) with respect to information relating to the
immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any person under a
lawful detention or under arrest, including information regarding
the person's place of birth:
(A) sending the information to or requesting or
receiving the information from United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services, United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, or another relevant federal agency;
(B) maintaining the information; or
(C) exchanging the information with another
local entity or campus police department or a federal or state
governmental entity;
(3) assisting or cooperating with a federal
immigration officer as reasonable or necessary, including
providing enforcement assistance; or
(4) permitting a federal immigration officer to enter
and conduct enforcement activities at a jail to enforce federal
immigration laws.
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b)(3), a local entity or
campus police department may prohibit persons who are employed by
or otherwise under the direction or control of the entity or
department from assisting or cooperating with a federal immigration
officer if the assistance or cooperation occurs at a place of
worship.
Sec. 752.054. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A local entity,
campus police department, or a person employed by or otherwise
under the direction or control of the entity or department may not
consider race, color, religion, language, or national origin while
enforcing immigration laws except to the extent permitted by the
United States Constitution or Texas Constitution.
Sec. 752.055. COMPLAINT; EQUITABLE RELIEF. (a) Any
citizen residing in the jurisdiction of a local entity or any
citizen enrolled at or employed by an institution of higher
education may file a complaint with the attorney general if the
person asserts facts supporting an allegation that the entity or
the institution's campus police department has violated Section
752.053. The citizen must include a sworn statement with the
complaint stating that to the best of the citizen's knowledge, all
of the facts asserted in the complaint are true and correct.
(b) If the attorney general determines that a complaint
filed under Subsection (a) against a local entity or campus police
department is valid, the attorney general may file a petition for a
writ of mandamus or apply for other appropriate equitable relief in
a district court in Travis County or in a county in which the
principal office of the entity or department is located to compel
the entity or department that is suspected of violating Section
752.053 to comply with that section.
(c) An appeal of a suit brought under Subsection (b) is
governed by the procedures for accelerated appeals in civil cases
under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The appellate court
shall render its final order or judgment with the least possible
delay.
Sec. 752.056. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A local entity or campus
police department that is found by a court of law as having
intentionally violated Section 752.053 is subject to a civil
penalty in an amount:
(1) not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for
the first violation; and
(2) not less than $25,000 and not more than $25,500 for
each subsequent violation.
(b) Each day of a continuing violation of Section 752.053
constitutes a separate violation for the civil penalty under this
section.
(c) The court that hears an action brought under Section
752.055 against the local entity or campus police department shall
determine the amount of the civil penalty under this section.
(d) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be
deposited to the credit of the compensation to victims of crime fund
established under Subchapter B, Chapter 56, Code of Criminal
Procedure.
(e) Sovereign immunity of this state and governmental
immunity of a county and municipality to suit is waived and
abolished to the extent of liability created by this section.
Sec. 752.0565. REMOVAL FROM OFFICE. (a) For purposes of
Section 66.001, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, a person holding
an elective or appointive office of a political subdivision of this
state does an act that causes the forfeiture of the person's office
if the person violates Section 752.053.
(b) The attorney general shall file a petition under Section
66.002, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, against a public officer
to which Subsection (a) applies if presented with evidence,
including evidence of a statement by the public officer,
establishing probable grounds that the public officer engaged in
conduct described by Subsection (a). The court in which the
petition is filed shall give precedence to proceedings relating to
the petition in the same manner as provided for an election contest
under Section 23.101.
(c) If the person against whom an information is filed based
on conduct described by Subsection (a) is found guilty as charged,
the court shall enter judgment removing the person from office.
Sec. 752.057. COMMUNITY OUTREACH POLICY. (a) Each law
enforcement agency that is subject to the requirements of this
subchapter may adopt a written policy requiring the agency to
perform community outreach activities to educate the public that a
peace officer may not inquire into the immigration status of a
victim of or witness to an alleged criminal offense unless, as
provided by Article 2.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, the officer
determines that the inquiry is necessary to:
(1) investigate the offense; or
(2) provide the victim or witness with information
about federal visas designed to protect individuals providing
assistance to law enforcement.
(b) A policy adopted under this section must include
outreach to victims of:
(1) family violence, as that term is defined by
Section 71.004, Family Code, including those receiving services at
family violence centers under Chapter 51, Human Resources Code; and
(2) sexual assault, including those receiving
services under a sexual assault program, as those terms are defined
by Section 420.003.
SECTION 1.02. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 772.0073 to read as follows:
Sec. 772.0073. ENFORCEMENT OF IMMIGRATION LAW GRANT
PROGRAM. (a) In this section:
(1) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(2) "Immigration detainer request" means a federal
government request to a local entity to maintain temporary custody
of an alien, including a United States Department of Homeland
Security Form I-247 document or a similar or successor form.
(3) "Immigration laws" means the laws of this state or
federal law relating to aliens, immigrants, or immigration,
including the federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
Section 1101 et seq.).
(4) "Local entity" means a municipality or county.
(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a competitive grant program to provide financial
assistance to local entities to offset costs related to:
(1) enforcing immigration laws; or
(2) complying with, honoring, or fulfilling
immigration detainer requests.
(c) The criminal justice division shall establish:
(1) eligibility criteria for grant applicants;
(2) grant application procedures;
(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications and
awarding grants;
(4) guidelines related to grant amounts; and
(5) procedures for monitoring the use of a grant
awarded under this section and ensuring compliance with any
conditions of the grant.
(d) The criminal justice division may use any revenue
available for purposes of this section.
ARTICLE 2. DUTIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES AND JUDGES
SECTION 2.01. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 2.251 to read as follows:
Art. 2.251. DUTIES RELATED TO IMMIGRATION DETAINER
REQUESTS. (a) A law enforcement agency that has custody of a
person subject to an immigration detainer request issued by United
States Immigration and Customs Enforcement shall:
(1) comply with, honor, and fulfill any request made
in the detainer request provided by the federal government; and
(2) inform the person that the person is being held
pursuant to an immigration detainer request issued by United States
Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
(b) A law enforcement agency is not required to perform a
duty imposed by Subsection (a) with respect to a person who has
provided proof that the person is a citizen of the United States or
that the person has lawful immigration status in the United States,
such as a Texas driver's license or similar government-issued
identification.
SECTION 2.02. Chapter 42, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Article 42.039 to read as follows:
Art. 42.039. COMPLETION OF SENTENCE IN FEDERAL CUSTODY.
(a) This article applies only to a criminal case in which:
(1) the judgment requires the defendant to be confined
in a secure correctional facility; and
(2) the defendant is subject to an immigration
detainer request.
(b) In a criminal case described by Subsection (a), the
judge shall, at the time of pronouncement of a sentence of
confinement, issue an order requiring the secure correctional
facility in which the defendant is to be confined and all
appropriate government officers, including a sheriff, a warden, or
members of the Board of Pardons and Paroles, as appropriate, to
require the defendant to serve in federal custody the final portion
of the defendant's sentence, not to exceed a period of seven days,
following the facility's or officer's determination that the change
in the place of confinement will facilitate the seamless transfer
of the defendant into federal custody. In the absence of an order
issued under this subsection, a facility or officer acting under
exigent circumstances may perform the transfer after making the
determination described by this subsection. This subsection
applies only if appropriate officers of the federal government
consent to the transfer of the defendant into federal custody under
the circumstances described by this subsection.
(c) If the applicable information described by Subsection
(a)(2) is not available at the time sentence is pronounced in the
case, the judge shall issue the order described by Subsection (b) as
soon as the information becomes available. The judge retains
jurisdiction for the purpose of issuing an order under this
article.
(d) For purposes of this article, "secure correctional
facility" has the meaning assigned by Section 1.07, Penal Code.
ARTICLE 3. DEFENSE OF LOCAL ENTITIES BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
SECTION 3.01. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code,
is amended by adding Section 402.0241 to read as follows:
Sec. 402.0241. DEFENSE OF LOCAL ENTITIES IN SUITS RELATED
TO IMMIGRATION DETAINER REQUESTS. (a) In this section, "local
entity" has the meaning assigned by Section 752.051.
(b) The attorney general shall defend a local entity in any
action in any court if:
(1) the executive head or governing body, as
applicable, of the local entity requests the attorney general's
assistance in the defense; and
(2) the attorney general determines that the cause of
action arises out of a claim involving the local entity's
good-faith compliance with an immigration detainer request
required by Article 2.251, Code of Criminal Procedure.
(c) If the attorney general defends a local entity under
Subsection (b), the state is liable for the expenses, costs,
judgment, or settlement of the claims arising out of the
representation. The attorney general may settle or compromise any
and all claims described by Subsection (b)(2). The state may not be
liable for any expenses, costs, judgments, or settlements of any
claims against a local entity not being represented by the attorney
general under Subsection (b).
ARTICLE 4. SURETY BOND
SECTION 4.01. Article 17.16, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to
read as follows:
(a) A surety may before forfeiture relieve the surety of the
surety's undertaking by:
(1) surrendering the accused into the custody of the
sheriff of the county where the prosecution is pending; or
(2) delivering to the sheriff of the county in which
the prosecution is pending and to the office of the prosecuting
attorney an affidavit stating that the accused is incarcerated in:
(A) federal custody, subject to Subsection
(a-1);
(B) [in] the custody of any state;[,] or
(C) [in] any county of this state.
(a-1) For purposes of Subsection (a)(2), the surety may not
be relieved of the surety's undertaking if the accused is in federal
custody to determine whether the accused is lawfully present in the
United States.
ARTICLE 5. PROHIBITED CONDUCT BY SHERIFF OR CONSTABLE
SECTION 5.01. Section 87.031, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) For purposes of Subsection (a), "a misdemeanor
involving official misconduct" includes a misdemeanor under
Section 39.07, Penal Code.
SECTION 5.02. Chapter 39, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Section 39.07 to read as follows:
Sec. 39.07. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH IMMIGRATION DETAINER
REQUEST. (a) A person who is a sheriff, chief of police, or
constable or a person who otherwise has primary authority for
administering a jail commits an offense if the person:
(1) has custody of a person subject to an immigration
detainer request issued by United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement; and
(2) knowingly fails to comply with the detainer
request.
(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
(c) It is an exception to the application of this section
that the person who was subject to an immigration detainer request
described by Subsection (a)(1) had provided proof that the person
is a citizen of the United States or that the person has lawful
immigration status in the United States, such as a Texas driver's
license or similar government-issued identification.
ARTICLE 6. INQUIRY BY PEACE OFFICER REGARDING IMMIGRATION OR
NATIONALITY OF CRIME VICTIM OR WITNESS
SECTION 6.01. Article 2.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
(d) Subject to Subsection (e), in the course of
investigating an alleged criminal offense, a peace officer may
inquire as to the nationality or immigration status of a victim of
or witness to the offense only if the officer determines that the
inquiry is necessary to:
(1) investigate the offense; or
(2) provide the victim or witness with information
about federal visas designed to protect individuals providing
assistance to law enforcement.
(e) Subsection (d) does not prevent a peace officer from:
(1) conducting a separate investigation of any other
alleged criminal offense; or
(2) inquiring as to the nationality or immigration
status of a victim of or witness to a criminal offense if the
officer has probable cause to believe that the victim or witness has
engaged in specific conduct constituting a separate criminal
offense.
ARTICLE 7. SEVERABILITY AND EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 7.01. It is the intent of the legislature that every
provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word
in this Act, and every application of the provisions in this Act to
each person or entity, are severable from each other. If any
application of any provision in this Act to any person, group of
persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be invalid for any
reason, the remaining applications of that provision to all other
persons and circumstances shall be severed and may not be affected.
SECTION 7.02. 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, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 4 passed the Senate on
February 8, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 10; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 3, 2017, by the
following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 4 passed the House, with
amendments, on April 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 94,
Nays 53, one present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor