Darby Bill Adds A DPS Oilfield Theft Unit, Database Included

The text as introduced · 629 words

89R14544 AJZ-F

By: Darby
H.B. No. 3035

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention

unit within the 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) "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.

(2) "Petroleum product" has the meaning assigned by

Section 31.19(a), Penal Code.

(3) "Unit" means the organized oilfield theft

prevention unit established under this subchapter.

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 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, if the unlawfully

appropriated property includes oil and gas equipment.

(c) The unit shall coordinate with federal, state, and local

law enforcement agencies, attorneys representing the state, the

Railroad Commission of Texas, and any person who is a victim of an

offense described by Subsection (b) as necessary to carry out the

duties of the unit.

(d) The director shall designate a command structure within

the department to supervise the operations of the unit.

(e) The director shall adopt rules, subject to commission

approval, as necessary for the control and general administration

of the unit, including rules:

(1) governing the procurement of facilities and

equipment for the unit;

(2) regarding required training for unit personnel;

and

(3) regarding working conditions of unit personnel.

Sec. 411.037. JURISDICTION; HEADQUARTERS. The unit has

statewide jurisdiction but shall operate primarily within the

designated region of the department that is adjacent to the

international border and contains the city of El Paso. The unit's

headquarters must be located in that region.

Sec. 411.038. UNIT DUTIES. The unit, together with the

department, shall:

(1) develop and deploy to local law enforcement

agencies specialized training, resources, and policing strategies

tailored to investigating and preventing offenses described by

Section 411.036(b);

(2) conduct public outreach and awareness initiatives

to educate industry professionals and communities regarding

offenses described by Section 411.036(b); and

(3) maintain a centralized database for tracking

offenses described by Section 411.036(b) and related criminal

enterprises.

Sec. 411.039. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than January 1 of

each odd-numbered year, the department shall prepare and submit to

the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of

representatives, and each standing committee of the legislature

with primary jurisdiction over natural resources or criminal

justice matters a written report that:

(1) summarizes the unit's activities and evaluates the

unit's effectiveness during the preceding two-year period,

including by providing statistics regarding any arrests made by the

unit and any prosecutions that resulted from those arrests or

assets that were recovered as a result of those arrests; and

(2) provides recommendations for legislative or

administrative action to improve the effectiveness of the unit.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, the public

safety director of the Department of Public Safety of the State of

Texas shall adopt rules necessary to implement Subchapter C-1,

Chapter 411, Government Code, as added by 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.