Relating to the creation of an organized oilfield theft prevention unit within the Department of Public Safety.
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 may 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. (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 that region.
(b) The department, subject to commission approval, may
establish in any department region one or more additional regional
offices of the unit to assist in the duties of the unit.
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.
