Bill > SB1499

This bill transfers and redesignates the existing Financial Crimes Intelligence Center from the Occupations Code to the Government Code, while expanding its scope and definitions. The bill broadens the center's focus from just card fraud to a more comprehensive "payment fraud" definition, which now includes card fraud, check fraud, unauthorized payment orders, and electronic fund transfers without account holder consent. The center's primary purposes remain to coordinate law enforcement responses to payment fraud and maximize agencies' abilities to detect and prevent such criminal activities. The bill establishes that the center can collaborate with various governmental and financial entities, serve as a centralized information collection point, provide training and public outreach, and release non-sensitive information to affected institutions. The center's director (formerly called the chief intelligence coordinator) will be required to file an annual report detailing payment fraud statistics, operation plans, and expenditures. Additionally, the department may solicit funding and grants to support the center's operations, with grant recipients able to use funds for reducing payment fraud, purchasing deterrence equipment, providing training, and conducting public outreach. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation required to adopt implementing rules as soon as practicable after the effective date.

Justice, Labor and Employment

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB1499