89R21980 CJD-D     By: Capriglione H.B. No. 3711       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the investigation and prosecution of certain open   meetings offenses as offenses against public administration and the   publication of certain information regarding the prosecution of   those offenses.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 411.0252, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 411.0252.  OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.  For   purposes of this subchapter, the following are offenses against   public administration:                (1)  an offense under Title 8, Penal Code, committed by   a state officer or a state employee in connection with the powers   and duties of the state office or state employment;                (2)  an offense under Chapter 301, 302, 571, 572, or   2004 committed by a state officer or a state employee in connection   with the powers and duties of the state office or state employment   or by a candidate for state office;                (3)  an offense under Chapter 573 committed by a state   officer in connection with the powers and duties of the state   office; [and]                (4)  an offense under Title 15, Election Code,   committed in connection with:                      (A)  a campaign for or the holding of state   office; or                      (B)  an election on a proposed constitutional   amendment; and                (5)  an offense under Chapter 551 committed by a county   or municipal officer or school district board of trustees member.          SECTION 2.  Section 411.0253, Government Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (d-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as   follows:          (d-1)  A prosecuting attorney who receives a formal or   informal complaint regarding an offense against public   administration described by Section 411.0252(5) shall request the   assistance of the public integrity unit in the investigation of the   offense.          (e)  The public integrity unit shall:                (1)  [,] on request of the prosecuting attorney   described by Subsection (d) and for an offense against public   administration other than an offense described by Section   411.0252(5), assist the attorney in the investigation of the [an]   offense; or                (2)  on request of the prosecuting attorney described   by Subsection (d) or (d-1) and for an offense against public   administration described by Section 411.0252(5):                      (A)  assist the attorney in the investigation of   the offense; or                      (B)  refer the investigation of the offense to   another law enforcement agency with jurisdiction to investigate the   offense [against public administration].          SECTION 3.  Section 411.0254, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 411.0254.  NOTIFICATION REGARDING DISPOSITION OF   CASE.  (a) The prosecuting attorney shall notify the public   integrity unit of:                (1)  the termination of a case investigated by the   public integrity unit; or                (2)  the results of the final disposition of a case   investigated by the public integrity unit, including the final   adjudication or entry of a plea.          (b)  If the prosecuting attorney decides to not prosecute or   to terminate the investigation of a case regarding an offense   against public administration described by Section 411.0252(5),   the attorney shall publish on the attorney's Internet website, if   any, for a period of not less than one year:                (1)  notice of the attorney's decision to not prosecute   the case; and                (2)  the attorney's reason for not prosecuting the   case.          SECTION 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   the investigation or prosecution of an offense committed on or   after the effective date of this Act. The investigation or   prosecution of an offense committed before the effective date of   this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was   committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed   before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense   occurred before that date.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.