Bill Text: TX HB149 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the enforcement by certain governmental entities of state and federal laws governing immigration.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-02-13 - Referred to State Affairs [HB149 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB149-Introduced.html

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85R2583 SCL-D
By: Simmons H.B. No. 149

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the enforcement by certain governmental entities of
state and federal laws governing immigration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 11, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 364 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 364. ENFORCEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL IMMIGRATION LAWS
Sec. 364.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Immigration laws" means the laws of this state or
federal law relating to immigrants or immigration, including the
federal Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et
seq.).
(2) "Lawful detention" means the detention of an
individual by a local entity for the investigation of a criminal
offense. The term excludes a detention if the sole reason for the
detention is that the individual:
(A) is a victim of or witness to a criminal
offense; or
(B) is reporting a criminal offense.
(3) "Local entity" means:
(A) the governing body of a municipality, county,
or special district or authority, subject to Sections 364.002(a)
and (b);
(B) an officer or employee of or a division,
department, or other body that is part of a municipality, county, or
special district or authority, including a sheriff, municipal
police department, municipal attorney, or county attorney; and
(C) a district attorney or criminal district
attorney.
Sec. 364.002. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER. (a) This chapter
does not apply to a school district or open-enrollment charter
school. This chapter does not apply to the release of information
contained in education records of an educational agency or
institution, except in conformity with the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g).
(b) This chapter does not apply to a hospital or hospital
district created under Subtitle C or D, Title 4, Health and Safety
Code, or a hospital district created under a general or special law
authorized by Article IX, Texas Constitution, to the extent that
the hospital or hospital district is providing access to or
delivering medical or health care services as required under the
following applicable federal or state laws:
(1) 42 U.S.C. Section 1395dd;
(2) 42 U.S.C. Section 1396b(v);
(3) Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Health and Safety Code;
(4) Chapter 81, Health and Safety Code; and
(5) Section 311.022, Health and Safety Code.
(c) Subsection (b) does not exclude the application of this
chapter to a commissioned peace officer employed by or commissioned
by a hospital or hospital district subject to Subsection (b).
Sec. 364.003. LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLICY REGARDING
IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT. (a) A local entity shall not adopt a
rule, order, ordinance, or policy under which the entity prohibits
the enforcement of immigration laws.
(b) In compliance with Subsection (a), a local entity shall
not prohibit a person who is a commissioned peace officer described
by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, a corrections officer,
a booking clerk, a magistrate, or a district attorney, criminal
district attorney, or other prosecuting attorney and who is
employed by or otherwise under the direction or control of the
entity from doing any of the following:
(1) inquiring into the immigration status of a person
under a lawful detention or under arrest;
(2) with respect to information relating to the
immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any person under a
lawful detention or under arrest:
(A) sending the information to or requesting or
receiving the information from United States Citizenship and
Immigration Services or United States Immigration and Customs
Enforcement, including information regarding a person's place of
birth;
(B) maintaining the information; or
(C) exchanging the information with another
local entity or a federal or state governmental entity;
(3) assisting or cooperating with a federal
immigration officer as reasonable and necessary, including
providing enforcement assistance; or
(4) permitting a federal immigration officer to enter
and conduct enforcement activities at a municipal or county jail to
enforce federal immigration laws.
Sec. 364.004. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A local entity or
a person employed by or otherwise under the direction or control of
the entity may not consider race, color, language, or national
origin while enforcing immigration laws except to the extent
permitted by the United States Constitution or Texas Constitution.
Sec. 364.005. COMPLAINT; EQUITABLE RELIEF. (a) Any
citizen residing in the jurisdiction of a local entity may file a
complaint with the attorney general if the citizen offers evidence
to support an allegation that the local entity has adopted a rule,
order, ordinance, or policy under which the entity prohibits the
enforcement of immigration laws or that the entity, by consistent
actions, prohibits the enforcement of those laws. The citizen must
include with the complaint the evidence the citizen has that
supports the complaint.
(b) If the attorney general determines that a complaint
filed under Subsection (a) against a local entity is valid, the
attorney general shall, not later than the 10th day after the date
of the determination, provide written notification to the entity
that:
(1) the complaint has been filed;
(2) the attorney general has determined that the
complaint is valid;
(3) the attorney general is authorized to file an
action to enjoin the violation if the entity does not come into
compliance with the requirements of Section 364.003 on or before
the 90th day after the date the notification is provided; and
(4) the entity will be denied state funds for the state
fiscal year following the year in which a final judicial
determination in an action brought under Subsection (c) is made.
(c) If the attorney general determines that a complaint
filed under Subsection (a) against a local entity is valid, the
attorney general may file a petition for a writ of mandamus or apply
for other appropriate equitable relief in a district court in
Travis County or in a county in which the principal office of the
entity is located to compel the entity that adopts a rule, order,
ordinance, or policy under which the local entity prohibits the
enforcement of immigration laws or that, by consistent actions,
prohibits the enforcement of those laws to comply with Section
364.003. The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses
incurred in obtaining relief under this subsection, including court
costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative costs, witness
fees, and deposition costs.
(d) An appeal of a suit brought under Subsection (c) is
governed by the procedures for accelerated appeals in civil cases
under the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure. The appellate court
shall render its final order or judgment with the least possible
delay.
Sec. 364.006. DENIAL OF STATE FUNDS. (a) A local entity
may not receive state funds if the entity adopts a rule, order,
ordinance, or policy under which the entity prohibits the
enforcement of immigration laws or, by consistent actions,
prohibits the enforcement of immigration laws.
(b) State funds for a local entity shall be denied for the
state fiscal year following the year in which a final judicial
determination in an action brought under Section 364.005 is made
that the entity has intentionally prohibited the enforcement of
immigration laws.
(c) The comptroller shall adopt rules to implement this
section uniformly among the state agencies from which state funds
are distributed to a municipality or county.
(d) A local entity that has not violated Section 364.003 may
not be denied state funds, regardless of whether the entity is a
part of another entity that is in violation of that section.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.