Title GV, Government Code

Sec. 411.017. UNAUTHORIZED ACTS INVOLVING DEPARTMENT NAME, INSIGNIA, OR DIVISION NAME. (a) A person commits an offense if, without the director's authorization, the person: (1) manufactures, sells, or possesses a badge, identification card, or other item bearing a department insi…

Sec. 411.018. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS. (a) The director shall adopt rules relating to the reporting of all transportation incidents involving releases of reportable quantities of hazardous materials occurring on public roads or railroads that are not on a private industrial site. The…

Sec. 411.0185. AUTHORIZED INSPECTION OF CARGO TANKS CONTAINING CERTAIN PETROLEUM PRODUCTS. (a) In this section: (1) "Cargo tank" has the meaning assigned by Section 162.001, Tax Code. (2) "Crime laboratory" and "forensic analysis" have the meanings assigned by Article 38.35, Code…

Sec. 411.019. TOLL-FREE NUMBER. (a) The department shall provide a 24-hour toll-free telephone number for use by the public in reporting traffic offenses, including driving while intoxicated, suspected criminal activity, and traffic collisions and other emergencies. (b) On receiv…

Sec. 411.0195. PUBLIC COMPLAINTS. (a) The department shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the department. The department shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the re…

Sec. 411.0196. ACCESS TO PROGRAMS. The department shall prepare and maintain a written plan that describes how a person who does not speak English or who has a physical, mental, or developmental disability can be provided reasonable access to the department's programs. Added by A…

Sec. 411.020. PURCHASE OF FIREARM FROM DEPARTMENT BY OFFICER. (a) A commissioned officer of the department may purchase for an amount set by the department, not to exceed fair market value, a firearm issued to the officer by the department if the firearm is not listed as a prohib…

Sec. 411.0201. REPRODUCTION OF RECORDS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the department may photograph, microphotograph, or film any record in connection with the issuance of a driver's license or commercial driver's license and any record of any division of the departme…

Sec. 411.0202. DISPOSAL OF RECORDS. (a) Unless otherwise required by law and subject to Chapter 441, the department may dispose of or destroy records that the department determines are not required for the performance of the department's duties and functions. (b) The department m…

Sec. 411.0206. ABATEMENT OR DEFERRAL FOR VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT. (a) In this section: (1) "License" means a license, certificate, permit, or other authorization issued by the department. (2) "Victim of identity theft" means an individual who has filed a criminal complaint alle…

Sec. 411.0207. PUBLIC CORRUPTION UNIT. (a) In this section, "organized criminal activity" means conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 71.02, Penal Code. (b) A public corruption unit is created within the department to investigate and assist in the management of allega…

Sec. 411.0208. RESERVE OFFICER CORPS. (a) The commission may provide for the establishment of a reserve officer corps consisting of retired or previously commissioned peace officers, as defined by Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, who retired or resigned in good standin…

Sec. 411.0209. DEPARTMENT ASSISTANCE AT INTERNATIONAL BORDER CHECKPOINTS. (a) To prevent the unlawful transfer of contraband from this state to the United Mexican States and other unlawful activity, the department shall implement a strategy for providing to federal authorities an…

Sec. 411.02093. STATE CRIMINAL LAW TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BORDER PATROL AGENTS. (a) The department shall: (1) develop a training program for Border Patrol Agents of the United States Customs and Border Protection on the criminal laws of this state, including laws relating to arrest…

Sec. 411.02094. BORDER OPERATIONS TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) The department, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies, shall establish and administer a border operations training program for peace officers employed by local law enforcement agencies that will prepare the off…

Sec. 411.02095. STATEWIDE PROGRAM FOR THE PREVENTION AND DETECTION OF CERTAIN CRIMINAL OFFENSES. (a) The department may establish a program throughout this state for preventing and detecting: (1) the unlawful possession or the unlawful and imminent movement or transfer between th…

Sec. 411.02096. REPORT REGARDING CERTAIN FIREARM STATISTICS. (a) Not later than January 31 of each year, the department shall collect information for the preceding calendar year related to the carrying of firearms by persons in this state, including: (1) the number of persons who…

Sec. 411.02097. FIREARM SAFETY. The department shall develop and post on the department's Internet website a course on firearm safety and handling. The course must be accessible to the public free of charge. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 809 (H.B. 1927), Sec. 7, eff. S…

Sec. 411.02098. TRANSNATIONAL REPRESSION TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) In this section: (1) "Agent of a foreign government or foreign terrorist organization" and "agent" mean a person acting on behalf of or otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or foreign terrorist org…

Sec. 411.021. COMPOSITION. The Texas Rangers are a major division of the department consisting of the number of rangers authorized by the legislature. The highest ranking officer of the Texas Rangers is responsible to and reports directly to the director. Officers are entitled to…

Sec. 411.022. AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS. (a) An officer of the Texas Rangers is governed by the law regulating and defining the powers and duties of sheriffs performing similar duties, except that the officer may make arrests, execute process in a criminal case in any county and, if …

Sec. 411.0221. QUALIFICATIONS. (a) To be commissioned as an officer of the Texas Rangers, a person must: (1) have at least eight years of experience as a full-time, paid peace officer, including at least four years of experience in the department; and (2) be a commissioned member…

Sec. 411.0222. ELIGIBILITY FOR PROMOTION. Except as provided by Section 411.0223, an officer of the Texas Rangers is eligible for promotion only if the officer has served in the next lower position for at least two years before the date of promotion. Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg.…

Sec. 411.0223. APPOINTMENT OF HIGHEST-RANKING OFFICERS. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c), an officer is eligible for appointment by the director to chief of the Texas Rangers only if the officer has at least five years of supervisory experience as a commissioned member of…

Sec. 411.023. SPECIAL RANGERS. (a) The commission may appoint as special rangers honorably retired commissioned officers of the department and not more than 300 other persons. (b) A special ranger is subject to the orders of the commission and the governor for special duty to the…

Sec. 411.024. SPECIAL TEXAS RANGERS. (a) The commission may appoint as a special Texas Ranger an honorably retired or retiring commissioned officer of the department whose position immediately preceding retirement is an officer of the Texas Rangers. (b) A special Texas Ranger is …

Sec. 411.0251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: (1) "Offense" means a prohibited act for which state law imposes a criminal or civil penalty. (2) "Prosecuting attorney" means a district attorney, criminal district attorney, or county attorney. (3) "State agency" means a departmen…

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…

Sec. 411.0253. PUBLIC INTEGRITY UNIT. (a) The Texas Rangers division of the department shall establish and support a public integrity unit. (b) On receiving a formal or informal complaint regarding an offense against public administration or on request of a prosecuting attorney o…

Sec. 411.0254. NOTIFICATION REGARDING DISPOSITION OF CASE. 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…

Sec. 411.0255. DISQUALIFICATION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY OR JUDGE; SELECTION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY BY PRESIDING JUDGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE JUDICIAL REGION. (a) In this section, "presiding judges" means the presiding judges of the administrative judicial regions. (b) A prosecuting a…

Sec. 411.0256. VENUE. Notwithstanding Chapter 13A, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law, if the defendant is a natural person, venue for prosecution of an offense against public administration and lesser included offenses arising from the same transaction is the county in whi…

Sec. 411.0257. RESIDENCE. For the purposes of this subchapter, a person resides in the county where that person: (1) claims a residence homestead under Chapter 41, Property Code, if that person is a member of the legislature; (2) claimed to be a resident before being subject to r…

Sec. 411.0258. COOPERATION OF STATE AGENCIES AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES. (a) To the extent allowed by law, a state agency or local law enforcement agency shall cooperate with the public integrity unit and prosecuting attorney by providing resources and information request…

Sec. 411.0259. SUBPOENAS. (a) In connection with an investigation of an alleged offense against public administration, the public integrity unit may issue a subpoena to compel the production, for inspection or copying, of relevant evidence that is in this state. (b) A subpoena ma…

Sec. 411.031. COMPOSITION. The Texas Highway Patrol is a division of the department consisting of the chief patrol officer, the number of captains, sergeants, and privates authorized by the legislature, and administrative and clerical help as the commission determines. A person's…

Sec. 411.032. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS. In addition to the powers and duties provided by law for the officers, noncommissioned officers, and enlisted persons of the Texas Highway Patrol, they have the powers and authority provided by law for members of the Texas Rangers forc…

Sec. 411.033. CERTAIN EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES. The department shall equip all motor vehicles used by officers of the Texas Highway Patrol in discharging the officers' official duties with bullet-resistant windshields. Added by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 980 (S.B. 2222), Sec. …

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…

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 may investigate and arrest individuals determined to have committed an offense under: (1) Section 31.19…

Sec. 411.037. JURISDICTION; HEADQUARTERS. (a) 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 t…

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) condu…

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 jurisdicti…

Sec. 411.041. COMPOSITION. The administrative division of the department consists of the bureaus of identification and records, communications, intelligence, and training. The director, with the advice and consent of the commission, shall employ chiefs, experts, operators, instru…

Sec. 411.042. BUREAU OF IDENTIFICATION AND RECORDS. (a) The director shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the commission, a chief of the bureau of identification and records to be the executive officer of the bureau. The chief and at least one assistant must be recognize…

Sec. 411.0421. INFORMATION REGARDING FRAUDULENT USE OF IDENTIFICATION. (a) The department shall create a record of each individual who: (1) in conjunction with the attorney representing the state in the prosecution of felonies in the county in which the individual resides and the…