By: Sparks S.B. No. 1320
(In the Senate - Filed February 14, 2025;
February 28, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on
Criminal Justice; April 3, 2025, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; April 3, 2025, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
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 C-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER C-1. ORGANIZED OILFIELD THEFT PREVENTION UNIT
Sec. 411.035. 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.
(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. 411.036. 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. 411.037. 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. 411.038. ADDITIONAL DUTIES. (a) In addition to the
duties described under Sections 411.036(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. 411.039. 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.
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