85R3474 ADM-D     By: Johnson of Dallas H.B. No. 1855       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a prohibition on certain law enforcement inquiries   regarding the nationality or immigration status of a victim of or   witness to a criminal offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Article 2.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is   amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:          (d)  Subject to Subsection (e), in the course of   investigating an alleged criminal offense, a peace officer may   inquire as to the nationality or immigration status of a victim of   or witness to the offense only if the officer determines that the   inquiry is necessary to:                (1)  investigate the offense; or                (2)  provide the victim or witness with information   about federal visas designed to protect individuals providing   assistance to law enforcement.          (e)  Subsection (d) does not prevent a peace officer from:                (1)  conducting a separate investigation of any other   alleged criminal offense; or                (2)  inquiring as to the nationality or immigration   status of a victim of or witness to a criminal offense if the   officer has probable cause to believe that the victim or witness has   engaged in specific conduct constituting a separate criminal   offense.          SECTION 2.  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, 2017.