Guillen Bill Shields Every Tip Report From Public Records Requests

The text as introduced · 664 words

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.