Bill Text: TX HB247 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

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

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-15 - Referred to State Affairs [HB247 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB247-Introduced.html

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82R1850 PAM-D
By: Solomons H.B. No. 247

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the enforcement of state and federal laws governing
immigration by certain governmental entities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 370.003, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 370.003. LOCAL GOVERNMENT [MUNICIPAL OR COUNTY] POLICY
REGARDING ENFORCEMENT OF STATE AND FEDERAL [DRUG] LAWS. (a) This
section applies to:
(1) the [The] governing body of a municipality, [the
commissioners court of a] county, or special district or authority;
(2) an officer, employee, 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; or
(3) a[,] district attorney[,] or criminal district
attorney.
(b) An entity described by Subsection (a) may not adopt a
policy under which the entity will not fully enforce the laws of
this state or federal law, including laws relating to:
(1) drugs, including Chapters 481 and 483, Health and
Safety Code; and
(2) immigrants or immigration, including the federal
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.)[,
and federal law].
(c) In compliance with Subsection (b)(2), an entity
described by Subsection (a) may not prohibit or in any manner
restrict a person employed by or otherwise under the direction or
control of the entity from doing any of the following:
(1) with respect to information relating to the
immigration status, lawful or unlawful, of any individual:
(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 an individual's place
of birth;
(B) maintaining the information; or
(C) exchanging the information with another
federal, state, or local governmental entity;
(2) assisting or cooperating with a federal
immigration officer as reasonable and necessary, including
providing enforcement assistance; or
(3) permitting a federal immigration officer to enter
and conduct enforcement activities at a municipal or county jail to
enforce federal immigration laws.
(d) The attorney general may file a petition for a writ of
mandamus or apply for other appropriate equitable relief in a
district court of a county in which the principal office of an
entity described by Subsection (a) is located to compel the entity
that adopts a rule, order, ordinance, or policy under which the
local entity will not fully enforce the laws of this state or
federal laws relating to Subsection (b)(2) or that, by consistent
actions, fails to fully enforce the laws of this state or federal
laws relating to Subsection (b)(2) to comply with Subsection
(b)(2). 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.
SECTION 2. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL
AND COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY APPLYING TO MORE THAN ONE
TYPE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT
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, 2011.