87R11460 EAS-F     By: Johnson S.B. No. 1806       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the creation of the Task Force on Prevention and   Investigation of Violent Crime.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  TASK FORCE ON PREVENTION AND INVESTIGATION OF   VIOLENT CRIME. (a) The Task Force on Prevention and Investigation   of Violent Crime is established to evaluate the policies and   practices of law enforcement agencies and other entities related to   the prevention and investigation of violent crime.          (b)  The task force is composed of the following 13 members:                (1)  nine members appointed by the governor as follows:                      (A)  three members representing communities in   this state with chronically high levels of violent crime;                      (B)  two members with policy expertise in criminal   justice and representing public and private institutions of higher   education in this state;                      (C)  two members representing law enforcement   agencies from large municipalities in this state experiencing   elevated levels of violent crime; and                      (D)  two members representing entities that   operate systems that are used by law enforcement agencies and other   governmental agencies to prevent or investigate violent crime in   large municipalities in this state experiencing elevated levels of   violent crime;                (2)  two members of the senate appointed by the   lieutenant governor; and                (3)  two members of the house of representatives   appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.          (c)  The governor shall designate a member of the task force   to serve as the presiding officer.          (d)  The task force shall:                (1)  receive reports and testimony from individuals,   state and local governmental agencies, community-based   organizations, and other public and private organizations   regarding the effectiveness of strategies currently used to prevent   and investigate violent crime in this state;                (2)  identify effective policies, procedures, or   programs currently used in this state or in other states to prevent   and investigate violent crime; and                (3)  develop policy and other recommendations for state   agencies and the legislature to improve the prevention and   investigation of violent crime in this state.          (e)  In developing recommendations under Subsection (d)(3)   of this section, the task force shall:                (1)  consider methods to improve relationships and   increase trust between law enforcement agencies and communities   with higher than average violent crime rates to encourage victims   and witnesses to report crimes and cooperate in law enforcement   investigations;                (2)  identify best practices in successful criminal   investigations, including best practices with respect to:                      (A)  evidence collection and handling;                      (B)  forensics;                      (C)  witness and victim support;                      (D)  digital media evidence processing, including   the collection and review of video; and                      (E)  any other area of criminal investigation that   significantly impacts the ability of a law enforcement agency to   identify a suspect and the ability of the attorney representing the   state to obtain a conviction;                (3)  evaluate the costs and benefits of proactive law   enforcement strategies;                (4)  evaluate the effectiveness of 9-1-1 dispatch   systems throughout the state in delivering responses to calls   related to violent crime;                (5)  facilitate cooperation and the ability to share   information among law enforcement agencies and public and private   entities;                (6)  encourage the collection, sharing, public   dissemination, and effective use of data by law enforcement   agencies to improve their operations;                (7)  evaluate ways to improve law enforcement trainings   and procedures to facilitate successful criminal investigations;   and                (8)  consider strategies designed to improve   employment-related incentives for peace officers, including   promotions, and to improve procedures for disciplining peace   officers more effectively, including strategies that will:                      (A)  reward officers who display exceptional   skill at discharging law enforcement functions; and                      (B)  appropriately discipline officers who engage   in misconduct.          (f)  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas   shall provide reasonably necessary administrative and technical   support to the task force.          (g)  Appointed members of the task force serve without   compensation and may not be reimbursed for travel or other expenses   incurred while conducting the business of the task force.          (h)  The Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas   may accept gifts, grants, or donations on behalf of the task force   to carry out the task force's duties under this Act.          (i)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the   task force.          SECTION 2.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2022, the   task force shall prepare and submit a report on the task force's   activities to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of   the house of representatives, and each standing committee of the   legislature having primary jurisdiction over criminal justice   matters. The report must include:                (1)  the findings and recommendations of the task   force, including recommendations described by Section 1(d)(3) of   this Act; and                (2)  other relevant information that the task force   considers appropriate.          SECTION 3.  APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. As soon as practicable   after the effective date of this Act, the governor, lieutenant   governor, and speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint   the members of the task force as required by this Act.          SECTION 4.  ABOLITION OF TASK FORCE. The task force is   abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2023.          SECTION 5.  EFFECTIVE DATE. 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, 2021.