Analyzing Texas Legislation: A GOVT 2306 Assignment on SB 1252

This assignment analyzes Texas Senate Bill 1252 from the 84th Legislative Special Session 1, focusing on the legislative process and its implications. The bill amended the law relating to interstate compacts on border security and immigration enforcement. It required the governor to coordinate and execute an Interstate Compact for Border Security among states. The analysis includes the bill's purpose, which is to stop illegal immigration, and its provisions regarding joint action among states. The assignment also covers the bill's effective date and the estimated costs associated with a special session. The analysis includes a section-by-section breakdown of the bill, defining key terms like 'illegal alien' and outlining the governor's authority to execute the compact and seek congressional approval. The student used the provided resources to summarize and analyze the legislative process as discussed in class.

Running head: TEXAS GOVERNMENT
TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

2TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Introduction:
This assignment analyzes the Senate Bill 1252 of the 84th Legislative Special Session
1. The 84th Legislature was convened on January 13, 2015 and adjourned on June 1, 2015. 41
bills and several appropriation items in the General Appropriations Act out of the 1323
enacted were objected to. 1323 bills out of 6276 filed bills and 7 out of 200 filed joint
resolutions were passed..
84(R) SB 1252:
This bill amended the law relating to interstate compact on Border security and immigration
enforcement. It amended the Government Code to require the governor to coordinate,
develop and execute Interstate Compact for Border Security among states for the operational
control of Texas’s border with Mexico. The main purpose of the bill is to stop illegal
immigrations at the border of Texas and Mexico. Before the compact the authority could only
be received through an interstate compact with another state with the approval of the United
States Congress as recognized by the Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution. The
average cost estimated to associate with a 30-day special session including per diem of
members of legislature and staffing is $1,125,000. It is further assumed that provisions of the
Bill relating to actions among compacting states for the operational control of the Texas
border could be implemented within the resources provided by TDPS, TMD and TPWD.
Rule making Authority:
No additional rule making authority is expressly granted by the bill.

3TEXAS GOVERNMENT
Section Analysis:
In the SECTION 1 of this bill Title 7 and Government Code are amended and Chapter
793 has been added. Chapter 793 is described as INTERSTATE COMPACT FOR BORDER
SECURITY.
In this chapter ‘illegal alien’ has been defined under section 793.001 as any person
who is not a citizen or national of the United States of America and who according to the
terms of section 1101 of the 8 U.S.C is unlawfully present in the country.
Section 793.002 grants the authority to execute interstate compact to the Governor in
relation to coordinate, develop and execute the compact, call a special session of legislature
to adopt a compact on or before the 31st day after the compact is adopted by another State
and to seek approval of the United States Congress for the compact.
Section 793.003 states the provisions for the interstate compact. The compact has
been required to provide for joint action among States on the matters including the
operational control of the state’s borders with Mexico by detecting, apprehending or
deflecting illegal aliens attempting to cross the borders, and regarding the enforcement of
federal immigration laws that include detection, apprehension, detention, prosecution, release
and monitor of the illegal aliens.
Section 2 of this bill provides the effective date to be immediate upon receiving two-
thirds of the votes of the entire member as has been provided by the Section 39, Article III of
the Texas Constitution or on not receiving the necessary votes the Act takes effect from
September 1, 2015.