HB 1839

relating to the iWatchTexas community reporting system
administered by the Department of Public Safety and a monetary
reward program for certain information on suspicious or criminal
activity reported through that system; creating criminal offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subtitle B, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 415 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 415.  IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM
SUBCHAPTER A.  GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 415.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "department"
means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
Sec. 415.002.  IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING SYSTEM.  The
iWatchTexas community reporting system is a statewide suspicious
activity reporting network administered by the department to
receive, process, document, analyze, and share reports of
suspicious activity or behavior that may indicate a criminal,
terroristic, or school safety-related threat.
SUBCHAPTER B.  ADMINISTRATION OF IWATCHTEXAS COMMUNITY REPORTING
Sec. 415.051.  DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT.  The department shall:
(1)  administer and maintain the iWatchTexas community
reporting system as provided by this chapter in a manner that allows
any person to submit a report; and
(2)  forward credible information submitted through
the system to the appropriate local law enforcement agency or
attorney representing the state for investigation and prosecution.
Sec. 415.052.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS.  A record
relating to a report made to the iWatchTexas community reporting
system is confidential and is not subject to disclosure under
SUBCHAPTER C.  MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM
Sec. 415.101.  MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM.  (a)  The department
shall establish and administer a program to provide a monetary
reward to a person who submits a report to the iWatchTexas community
(1)  includes actionable information regarding a
criminal, terroristic, or school safety-related threat; and
(2)  the department determines directly leads to the
arrest of a person engaging in organized criminal activity as
described by Section 71.02, Penal Code, or terrorism as described
(b)  The department shall set the amount of a reward provided
under the program established under this subchapter based on the
severity of the alleged offense reported and the usefulness of the
information provided, as determined by the department.
Sec. 415.102.  FUNDING OF MONETARY REWARD PROGRAM.  The
department may use any available revenue, including legislative
appropriations, and may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and
donations from a public or private source for purposes of
administering the monetary reward program established under this
Sec. 415.103.  RULES.  The department may adopt rules as
necessary for the implementation of the monetary reward program
established under this subchapter.
SUBCHAPTER D. OFFENSES AND PENALTIES
Sec. 415.151.  FALSE REPORT TO OBTAIN MONETARY REWARD.  (a)
A person commits an offense if, with the intent to obtain a monetary
reward under the monetary reward program established under
Subchapter C, the person knowingly reports false information
through the iWatchTexas community reporting system.
(b)  An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c)  If conduct constituting an offense under this section
also constitutes an offense under Section 37.08, Penal Code, the
actor may be prosecuted under either section but not both.
Sec. 415.152.  PROHIBITED DISCLOSURE OF CONFIDENTIAL
INFORMATION.  (a)  Unless the disclosure is required by court order
or otherwise required or authorized by law, a person commits an
offense if the person knowingly discloses the identity of or other
identifying information concerning a person who reported
information through the iWatchTexas community reporting system
without the consent of the reporting person.
(b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor,
except that an offense under this section is a felony of the third
degree if the offense is committed with the intent to obtain a
monetary gain or other benefit.
Sec. 415.153.  INELIGIBILITY FOR STATE EMPLOYMENT.  A person
convicted of an offense under Section 415.152 is not eligible for
state employment during the five-year period following the date the
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.