Sec. 402.038. TRANSNATIONAL AND ORGANIZED CRIME DIVISION. (a) The office of the attorney general shall establish a transnational and organized crime division.

Text of subsection effective until January 01, 2021

(b) To address matters related to border security and organized crime, the transnational and organized crime division shall:

(1) establish within the division a prosecution unit to provide critical assistance to local prosecutors;

(2) using existing funds, establish within the division a trafficking of persons unit to:

(A) assist local law enforcement agencies and local prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting trafficking of persons and related crimes; and

(B) work with the appropriate local and state agencies to identify victims of trafficking of persons and to provide the types of assistance available for those victims under Chapter 56, Code of Criminal Procedure; and

(3) develop initiatives to provide greater state assistance, support, and coordination among state law enforcement agencies, local law enforcement agencies, and local prosecutors.

Text of subsection effective on January 01, 2021

(b) To address matters related to border security and organized crime, the transnational and organized crime division shall:

(1) establish within the division a prosecution unit to provide critical assistance to local prosecutors;

(2) using existing funds, establish within the division a trafficking of persons unit to:

(A) assist local law enforcement agencies and local prosecutors in investigating and prosecuting trafficking of persons and related crimes; and

(B) work with the appropriate local and state agencies to identify victims of trafficking of persons and to provide the types of assistance available for those victims under Chapters 56A and 56B and Subchapter B, Chapter 58, Code of Criminal Procedure; and

(3) develop initiatives to provide greater state assistance, support, and coordination among state law enforcement agencies, local law enforcement agencies, and local prosecutors.

(c) Prosecution assistance provided by the division under this section shall be in accordance with the assistance authorized under Section 402.028.

Added by Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 333 (H.B. 11), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2015.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 469 (H.B. 4173), Sec. 2.43, eff. January 1, 2021.