Public Integrity Unit - Authorization

[ashling]

Need a little help here ...

I'm looking for the specific Constitutional or Code provision which authorizes the Travis County DA to operate the Public Integrity Unit, etc.

I will be dealing with this in class, but realized that I don't have this info.

I have begun researching, but to no avail ... so far

[northoftheborder]

1. You might contact the Travis County Clerk's office - they might point you

to the law which instituted this office.

[TexasTowelie]

2. I'm trying to help.

I searched the Texas Administrative Code and didn't find anything. The closest information that I found was that Ronnie Earle created the unit in the early 80s.

[ashling]

3. Thanks

[TexasTowelie]

4. I found a reference to SB 194, 68th Legislature.

Unfortunately, the Texas Legislature Online only goes back to the 71st Legislature. I've also tried searching the Texas Register and the TAC.

[TexasTowelie]

5. Another helpful source:

Texas State Archives. [phone].

[TexasTowelie]

6. If you find some the authorization would you please post it for us.

It would be nice to have that reference if it is needed in the future. Thanks and good luck!

[cheyanne]

7. I hear that the PIU is still operating, though with little budget.

Is it continuing the investigations that they had started? In NY, the commission that Cuomo closed turned their cases over the US attorney. Could that happen in Texas?

thanks.

[Gothmog]

8. I will check later

[DhhD]

9. Was Perry trying to remove an elected official?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Integrity_Section

http://www.columbia.edu/itc/journalism/cases/katrina/Federal%20Government/Department%20of%20Justice/Criminal%20Division/Public%20Integrity%20Report%202004.pdf

The Public Integrity Section was created in March 1976 in the wake of the Watergate scandal. Since 1978, has supervised administration of the Independent Counsel provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978, which requires the Attorney General to report to the United States Congress annually on the operations and activities of the Public Integrity Section.[1] Annual reports to Congress since 1978 are available on the PIN's website.[3] PIN's Election Crimes Branch was created in 1980 and supervises the U.S. Department of Justice's nationwide response to voter fraud, campaign financing offenses, and other election crimes.[4]

[DhhD]

10. In 1978, DA Ronald Earle sought funding for the new Public Integrity Unit.

http://www.hks.harvard.edu/criminaljustice-backup/publications/austin.pdf

Page A7 shows information about the new Public Integrity Unit.

Could Abbott to be charged for destroying voter records on a computer? Destroying State Records is a felony in my belief.

[DhhD]

11. More history of the use of the Public Integrity Unit in Texas.

http://www.multinationalmonitor.org/mm2004/04012004/april04corp3.html

To me, some crimes like kidnapping or election violations are both local, state and federal. US Attorney General or Assistants could take over when reviewing a case for the annual Report to Congress.