89R884 MEW-F     By: Guillen H.B. No. 1839       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the iWatchTexas community reporting system   administered by the Department of Public Safety and a monetary   reward program for certain information on suspicious or criminal   activity reported through that system; creating criminal offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 415 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 415. IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 415.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "department"   means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.          Sec. 415.002.  IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM. The   iWatchTexas community reporting system is a statewide suspicious   activity reporting network administered by the department to   receive, process, document, analyze, and share reports of   suspicious activity or behavior that may indicate a criminal,   terroristic, or school safety-related threat.   SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATION OF IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING   SYSTEM          Sec. 415.051.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT. The department shall:                (1)  administer and maintain the iWatchTexas community   reporting system as provided by this chapter in a manner that allows   any person to submit a report; and                (2)  forward credible information submitted through   the system to the appropriate local law enforcement agency or   attorney representing the state for investigation and prosecution.          Sec. 415.052.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS. A record   relating to a report made to the iWatchTexas community reporting   system is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under   Chapter 552.   SUBCHAPTER C. MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM          Sec. 415.101.  MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM. (a) The department   shall establish and administer a program to provide a monetary   reward to a person who submits a report to the iWatchTexas community   reporting system that:                (1)  includes actionable information regarding a   criminal, terroristic, or school safety-related threat; and                (2)  the department determines directly leads to the   arrest of a person engaging in organized criminal activity as   described by Section 71.02, Penal Code, or terrorism as described   by Section 76.02, Penal Code.          (b)  The department shall set the amount of a reward provided   under the program established under this subchapter based on the   severity of the alleged offense reported and the usefulness of the   information provided, as determined by the department.          Sec. 415.102.  FUNDING OF MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM. The   department may use any available revenue, including legislative   appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and   donations from a public or private source for purposes of   administering the monetary reward program established under this   subchapter.          Sec. 415.103.  RULES. The department may adopt rules as   necessary for the implementation of the monetary reward program   established under this subchapter.   SUBCHAPTER D. OFFENSES AND PENALTIES          Sec. 415.151.  FALSE REPORT TO OBTAIN MONETARY REWARD. (a)   A person commits an offense if, with the intent to obtain a monetary   reward under the monetary reward program established under   Subchapter C, the person knowingly reports false information   through the iWatchTexas community reporting system.          (b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.          (c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section   also constitutes an offense under Section 37.08, Penal Code, the   actor may be prosecuted under either section but not both.          Sec. 415.152.  PROHIBITED DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL   INFORMATION. (a) Unless the disclosure is required by court order   or otherwise required or authorized by law, a person commits an   offense if the person knowingly discloses the identity of or other   identifying information concerning a person who reported   information through the iWatchTexas community reporting system   without the consent of the reporting person.          (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,   except that an offense under this section is a felony of the third   degree if the offense is committed with the intent to obtain a   monetary gain or other benefit.          Sec. 415.153.  INELIGIBILITY FOR STATE EMPLOYMENT. A person   convicted of an offense under Section 415.152 is not eligible for   state employment during the five-year period following the date the   conviction becomes final.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.