Bill > HB3109

This bill transfers the existing Financial Crimes Intelligence Center from the Occupations Code to the Government Code and expands its scope from focusing solely on card fraud to a broader definition of payment fraud. The bill introduces new definitions for terms like "check fraud", "electronic fund transfer", and "payment fraud", which now encompass a wider range of financial crimes including unauthorized payment orders and electronic fund transfers without account holder consent. The Financial Crimes Intelligence Center's core purposes remain similar: to coordinate law enforcement responses to payment fraud, maximize the ability to detect and prevent such crimes, and serve as a primary entity for planning and integration. The center can now collaborate with various agencies, serve as a centralized information collection point, provide training and public outreach, and release non-sensitive information to affected financial institutions and merchants. The bill requires an annual report detailing payment fraud statistics, operation plans, and expenditures, and allows the department to solicit funding and award grants to help reduce payment fraud, purchase deterrence equipment, and conduct public education. The changes will take effect on September 1, 2025, with the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation required to adopt necessary implementing rules.

Labor and Employment

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3109