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.     * * * * *