Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2589 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	87R6162 MP-D
2	2	By: Howard H.B. No. 2589
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to crime scene investigation services; authorizing fees.
8	8	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
9	9	SECTION 1. Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
10	10	amended by adding Section 4-e to read as follows:
11	11	Sec. 4-e. CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR CERTIFICATION. (a) The
12	12	commission by rule shall:
13	13	(1) establish the qualifications for a certification
14	14	that include:
15	15	(A) successful completion of the education
16	16	requirements established by the commission;
17	17	(B) specific coursework and experience; and
18	18	(C) successful completion of an examination
19	19	required or recognized by the commission;
20	20	(2) set fees for the issuance and renewal of a
21	21	certification; and
22	22	(3) establish the term of a crime scene investigator
23	23	certification.
24	24	(b) The commission by rule may recognize a certification
25	25	issued by a national organization specializing in crime scene
26	26	investigation as satisfying the requirements established under
27	27	Subsection (a) to the extent the commission determines the content
28	28	required to receive the certification is substantially equivalent
29	29	to the content of the requirements under that subsection.
30	30	(c) The commission shall issue a certification to an
31	31	applicant who:
32	32	(1) submits an application on a form prescribed by the
33	33	commission;
34	34	(2) meets the qualifications established by
35	35	commission rule; and
36	36	(3) pays the required fee.
37	37	SECTION 2. Section 252.022, Local Government Code, is
38	38	amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
39	39	(e) This chapter does not apply to an expenditure for crime
40	40	scene investigation services conducted by a law enforcement agency,
41	41	crime laboratory, or medical examiner's office if the law
42	42	enforcement agency, crime laboratory, or medical examiner's
43	43	office:
44	44	(1) is accredited under Section 4-d, Article 38.01,
45	45	Code of Criminal Procedure; or
46	46	(2) employs:
47	47	(A) more than 10 crime scene investigators and at
48	48	least 20 percent of the crime scene investigators are certified
49	49	under Section 4-e, Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
50	50	(B) 10 crime scene investigators or fewer and at
51	51	least one of the crime scene investigators is certified under
52	52	Section 4-e, Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
53	53	SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 262, Local Government
54	54	Code, is amended by adding Section 262.0242 to read as follows:
55	55	Sec. 262.0242. MANDATORY EXEMPTION: CRIME SCENE
56	56	INVESTIGATION SERVICES. Section 262.023 does not apply to the
57	57	purchase of crime scene investigation services conducted by a law
58	58	enforcement agency, crime laboratory, or medical examiner's office
59	59	if the law enforcement agency, crime laboratory, or medical
60	60	examiner's office:
61	61	(1) is accredited under Section 4-d, Article 38.01,
62	62	Code of Criminal Procedure; or
63	63	(2) employs:
64	64	(A) more than 10 crime scene investigators and at
65	65	least 20 percent of the crime scene investigators are certified
66	66	under Section 4-e, Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure; or
67	67	(B) 10 crime scene investigators or fewer and at
68	68	least one of the crime scene investigators is certified under
69	69	Section 4-e, Article 38.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
70	70	SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date
71	71	of this Act, the Texas Forensic Science Commission shall adopt the
72	72	rules necessary to implement Section 4-e, Article 38.01, Code of
73	73	Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act.
74	74	SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.