Bill Text: TX SB168 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the operations of the Department of Public Safety, Parks and Wildlife Department, and state military forces in the border region.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-01-25 - Referred to Vet Affairs & Border Security [SB168 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-SB168-Introduced.html

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85R3431 MCK-F
By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 168

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operations of the Department of Public Safety,
Parks and Wildlife Department, and state military forces in the
border region.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.00711 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.00711. TRAINING FOR COMMISSIONED OFFICERS
ASSIGNED TO BORDER REGION. Department officers assigned to a
department region that includes one or more counties along the
Texas-Mexico border must be certified regarding appropriate
training, including academy and in-service training, in the
following:
(1) immigration law related to protections for victims
of crime or persecution;
(2) use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
the need for lethal force;
(3) social and cultural sensitivity toward border
communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
residents;
(4) language and basic cultural awareness of major
migrant-sending nations;
(5) best practices in community policing and civil and
human rights;
(6) response to grievances and referral of complaints;
and
(7) identification of and response to vulnerable
populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.0198 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.0198. OMBUDSMAN FOR BORDER OPERATIONS-RELATED
CONCERNS. (a) In this section, "ombudsman" means the ombudsman for
border operations-related concerns established under this section.
(b) The director shall appoint an ombudsman for border
operations-related concerns. The ombudsman shall report directly
to the director.
(c) To serve as ombudsman, a person must be knowledgeable in
civil and human rights law.
(d) The ombudsman shall receive and resolve complaints from
individuals and employers and assist in resolving problems with the
border operations components of the department.
SECTION 3. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 411.055 and 411.056 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.055. PERFORMANCE MEASURES FOR ASSESSING BORDER
OPERATIONS. The department shall develop and implement performance
measures as part of the department's review of its border
operations.
Sec. 411.056. ANNUAL REPORT ON BORDER OPERATIONS. Not
later than January 30 of each year, the department shall report to
the legislature regarding the impact of the department's border
operations on the protection of due process, the civil and human
rights of border residents and visitors, the private property
rights of landowners, and the economies of municipalities and
counties along the Texas-Mexico border.
SECTION 4. Subchapter E, Chapter 437, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 437.233 to read as follows:
Sec. 437.233. TRAINING FOR MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES
ASSIGNED TO BORDER COUNTIES. A member of the Texas military forces
serving on state active duty in a county along the Texas-Mexico
border must be certified regarding appropriate training, including
academy and in-service training, in the following:
(1) immigration law related to protections for victims
of crime or persecution;
(2) use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
the need for lethal force;
(3) social and cultural sensitivity toward border
communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
residents;
(4) language and basic cultural awareness of major
migrant-sending nations;
(5) best practices in community policing and civil and
human rights;
(6) response to grievances and referral of complaints;
and
(7) identification of and response to vulnerable
populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 11.0196 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.0196. TRAINING FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS. A peace
officer of the department assigned to a county along the
Texas-Mexico border must be certified regarding appropriate
training, including academy and in-service training, in the
following:
(1) immigration law related to protections for victims
of crime or persecution;
(2) use of force and tactical withdrawal in reducing
the need for lethal force;
(3) social and cultural sensitivity toward border
communities and the impact of border operations on communities and
residents;
(4) language and basic cultural awareness of major
migrant-sending nations;
(5) best practices in community policing and civil and
human rights;
(6) response to grievances and referral of complaints;
and
(7) identification of and response to vulnerable
populations, including persons expressing potential grounds for
asylum, children, victims of crime and human trafficking, and
individuals fleeing persecution or torture.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.