Bill Text: TX HB2524 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the criminal offenses for which and the circumstances under which certain communication devices may be detected and communications may be intercepted.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-03-14 - Referred to Criminal Jurisprudence [HB2524 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB2524-Introduced.html

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82R6950 PEP-D
By: Cain H.B. No. 2524

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the criminal offenses for which and the circumstances
under which certain communication devices may be detected and
communications may be intercepted.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 4, Article 18.20, Code of Criminal
Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4. OFFENSES FOR WHICH INTERCEPTIONS MAY BE AUTHORIZED.
A judge of competent jurisdiction may issue an order authorizing
interception of wire, oral, or electronic communications only if
the prosecutor applying for the order shows probable cause to
believe that the interception will provide evidence of the
commission of:
(1) a felony under Section 19.02, 19.03, or 43.26,
Penal Code;
(2) a felony under:
(A) Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, other
than felony possession of marihuana;
(B) Section 485.032, Health and Safety Code; or
(C) Chapter 483, Health and Safety Code;
(3) an offense under Section 20.03 or 20.04, Penal
Code;
(4) an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code;
(5) an offense under Chapter 34, Penal Code, if the
criminal activity giving rise to the proceeds involves the
commission of an offense under Title 5, Penal Code, or an offense
under federal law or the laws of another state containing elements
that are substantially similar to the elements of an offense under
Title 5;
(6) an offense under Section 38.09 or 38.11, Penal
Code; [or]
(7) a felony under Section 38.06 or 38.07, Penal Code,
if the escape relates to a person serving a sentence in a
correctional facility following conviction of a felony; or
(8) an attempt, conspiracy, or solicitation to commit
an offense listed in this section.
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 8B, Article 18.20, Code of
Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 8B. DETECTION OF CELLULAR TELEPHONE OR OTHER WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE IN OR NEAR CORRECTIONAL OR DETENTION
FACILITY.
SECTION 3. Sections 8B(b), (d), and (e), Article 18.20,
Code of Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article or
Article 18.21, the office of the inspector general of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice may:
(1) without a warrant, use electronic, mechanical, or
other devices to detect the presence or use of a cellular telephone
or other wireless communications device in:
(A) a correctional facility; or
(B) the immediate vicinity of a correctional
facility during the commission or attempted commission of an
offense under Section 38.06 or 38.07, Penal Code;
(2) without a warrant, intercept, monitor, detect, or,
as authorized by applicable federal laws and regulations, prevent
the transmission of any communication transmitted through the use
of a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device in
a location described by Subdivision (1) [correctional facility];
and
(3) use, to the extent authorized by law, any
information obtained under Subdivision (2), including the contents
of an intercepted communication, in any criminal or civil
proceeding before a court or other governmental agency or entity.
(d) When using an electronic, mechanical, or other device
under Subsection (b), the office of the inspector general shall
minimize the impact of the device on any communication that is not
reasonably related to the detection of the presence or use of a
cellular telephone or other wireless communications device in a
location described by Subsection (b)(1) [correctional facility].
(e) A person confined in a correctional facility does not
have an expectation of privacy with respect to the possession or use
of a cellular telephone or other wireless communications device
located on the premises or in the immediate vicinity of the
facility. The person who is confined, and any person with whom that
person communicates through the use of a cellular telephone or
other wireless communications device, does not have an expectation
of privacy with respect to the contents of any communication
transmitted by the cellular telephone or wireless communications
device.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.