Bills › 89th General Assembly
Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation task force within the department of public safety
Sponsored by the House Public Safety Committee
Topics:State budget
Where it is now
- Done: IntroducedJanuary 14, 2021
- Done: SubcommitteeJanuary 19, 2021
- Done: House committeeJanuary 28, 2021
- Stopped: Passes the HouseDied when the General Assembly ended
- Skipped: Senate committeeSkipped
- Done: Passes the SenateApril 13, 202146–0
- Next: To the Governor
- Next: Signed into law
Died when the session ended The 2022 session adjourned on May 24, 2022, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?
What’s in it
This bill establishes a cold case investigation task force within the department of public safety. The bill provides that a state cold case task force is created under the control, direction, and supervision of the commissioner of public safety. The cold case investigation task force shall, within the capabilities of the task force, conduct criminal investigations after an initial criminal investigation has been completed by the law enforcement agency conducting the initial criminal investigation.
Read the full explanation
The task force shall be comprised of law enforcement officers from various law enforcement agencies. The bill specifies that the task force shall focus on investigations related to unsolved murders, missing children, and missing adults. The bill provides that the commissioner shall hire at least two full-time task force personnel to the cold case investigation task force, and the department of public safety shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of the bill.
Fiscal note
Cost: up to $309,180 Compare with other bills
AI summary Senate File 561 creates a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety to investigate unsolved murders and missing persons cases. This bill is estimated to increase costs to the Department of Public Safety by $298,600 in fiscal year 2023 and $138,400 in fiscal year 2024.2
Read the fiscal note
Description
Senate File 561 establishes a Cold Case Investigation Unit within the Department of Public Safety (DPS). The Unit is tasked, within its capabilities, with conducting criminal investigations after an initial criminal investigation has been completed by law enforcement. The Unit is to focus on investigations involving unsolved murders, missing children, and missing adults presumed to be dead. The Bill requires the Commissioner of Public Safety to appoint at least 2.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) positions to the Cold Case Investigation Unit.
Background
Currently, no specific unit within the DPS is assigned to handle existing cold cases. At this time, the Major Crimes Unit (MCU) takes responsibility for investigating cold cases as time and resources allow.
Assumptions
- Due to the complex nature of cold case investigations, the DPS will need to appoint agents at the position classification level of Special Agent. In order to investigate cold cases, significant crime-solving experience is needed.
- It is assumed that the DPS will reassign 2.0 existing Special Agent positions. In order to backfill these two positions and to accommodate the Department’s internal hiring process, the DPS assumes it would eventually hire two Trooper I positions.
- Due to the strict timeline of the hiring process and subsequent academy admission, it is likely that the DPS will not be able to fully onboard the two Trooper I positions needed for personnel backfill until FY 2023.
- For FY 2024, compensation totals are adjusted for a 3.0% increase in salary and benefits.
Fiscal Impact
Table 1 provides a breakdown of the cost for 2.0 Trooper I FTE position for two years, including salary and benefit details.
Table 1 — Cost of 2.0 Trooper I FTE Positions, FY 2023 – FY 2024 Senate File 561 will increase the cost to the DPS by an estimated $298,600 in FY 2023 and $138,400 in FY 2024.
Sources
- Department of Public Safety
- LSA analysis
- Cold Case Unit · March 22, 2021
- Cold Case Task Force · February 17, 2021 · $309,180
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Tried before
89th General Assembly
Picked up later
Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.
Tried before
This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None got through a chamber.
- HF 2430 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…88th General Assembly · In committee · same titleCleared committee
Similar bills this General Assembly
- SF 2103 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…89th General Assembly · Renumbered as SF 2234Nearly identical
- SF 40 Relating to the establishment of a cold case investigation unit within the department of p…90th General Assembly · Approved by committeeVery similar
Matched by wording or an identical title.