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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to interactions between law enforcement and individuals |
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detained or arrested on suspicion of the commission of criminal |
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offenses, to the confinement, conviction, or release of those |
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individuals, and to grants supporting populations that are more |
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likely to interact frequently with law enforcement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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ARTICLE 1. SHORT TITLE |
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SECTION 1.01. SHORT TITLE. This Act shall be known as the |
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Sandra Bland Act, in memory of Sandra Bland. |
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ARTICLE 2. IDENTIFICATION AND DIVERSION OF AND SERVICES FOR |
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PERSONS SUSPECTED OF HAVING A MENTAL ILLNESS, AN INTELLECTUAL |
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DISABILITY, OR A SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE |
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SECTION 2.01. Article 16.22, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 16.22. EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF DEFENDANT SUSPECTED OF |
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HAVING MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY [MENTAL
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RETARDATION]. (a)(1) Not later than 12 [72] hours after receiving |
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credible information that may establish reasonable cause to believe |
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that a defendant committed to the sheriff's custody has a mental |
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illness or is a person with an intellectual disability [mental
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retardation], including observation of the defendant's behavior |
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immediately before, during, and after the defendant's arrest and |
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the results of any previous assessment of the defendant, the |
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sheriff shall provide written or electronic notice of the |
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information to the magistrate. On a determination that there is |
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reasonable cause to believe that the defendant has a mental illness |
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or is a person with an intellectual disability [mental
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retardation], the magistrate, except as provided by Subdivision |
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(2), shall order the local mental health or intellectual and |
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developmental disability [mental retardation] authority or another |
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qualified mental health or intellectual disability [mental
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retardation] expert to: |
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(A) collect information regarding whether the |
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defendant has a mental illness as defined by Section 571.003, |
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Health and Safety Code, or is a person with an intellectual |
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disability [mental retardation] as defined by Section 591.003, |
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Health and Safety Code, including information obtained from any |
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previous assessment of the defendant; and |
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(B) provide to the magistrate a written |
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assessment of the information collected under Paragraph (A). |
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(2) The magistrate is not required to order the |
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collection of information under Subdivision (1) if the defendant in |
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the year preceding the defendant's applicable date of arrest has |
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been determined to have a mental illness or to be a person with an |
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intellectual disability [mental retardation] by the local mental |
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health or intellectual and developmental disability [mental
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retardation] authority or another mental health or intellectual |
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disability [mental retardation] expert described by Subdivision |
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(1). A court that elects to use the results of that previous |
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determination may proceed under Subsection (c). |
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(3) If the defendant fails or refuses to submit to the |
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collection of information regarding the defendant as required under |
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Subdivision (1), the magistrate may order the defendant to submit |
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to an examination in a mental health facility determined to be |
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appropriate by the local mental health or intellectual and |
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developmental disability [mental retardation] authority for a |
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reasonable period not to exceed 21 days. The magistrate may order a |
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defendant to a facility operated by the Department of State Health |
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Services or the Health and Human Services Commission [Department of
|
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Aging and Disability Services] for examination only on request of |
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the local mental health or intellectual and developmental |
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disability [mental retardation] authority and with the consent of |
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the head of the facility. If a defendant who has been ordered to a |
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facility operated by the Department of State Health Services or the |
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Health and Human Services Commission [Department of Aging and
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Disability Services] for examination remains in the facility for a |
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period exceeding 21 days, the head of that facility shall cause the |
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defendant to be immediately transported to the committing court and |
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placed in the custody of the sheriff of the county in which the |
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committing court is located. That county shall reimburse the |
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facility for the mileage and per diem expenses of the personnel |
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required to transport the defendant calculated in accordance with |
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the state travel regulations in effect at the time. |
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(b) A written assessment of the information collected under |
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Subsection (a)(1)(A) shall be provided to the magistrate not later |
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than the 30th day after the date of any order issued under |
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Subsection (a) in a felony case and not later than the 10th day |
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after the date of any order issued under that subsection in a |
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misdemeanor case, and the magistrate shall provide copies of the |
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written assessment to the defense counsel, the prosecuting |
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attorney, and the trial court. The written assessment must include |
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a description of the procedures used in the collection of |
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information under Subsection (a)(1)(A) and the applicable expert's |
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observations and findings pertaining to: |
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(1) whether the defendant is a person who has a mental |
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illness or is a person with an intellectual disability [mental
|
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retardation]; |
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(2) whether there is clinical evidence to support a |
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belief that the defendant may be incompetent to stand trial and |
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should undergo a complete competency examination under Subchapter |
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B, Chapter 46B; and |
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(3) recommended treatment. |
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(c) After the trial court receives the applicable expert's |
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written assessment relating to the defendant under Subsection (b) |
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or elects to use the results of a previous determination as |
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described by Subsection (a)(2), the trial court may, as applicable: |
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(1) resume criminal proceedings against the |
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defendant, including any appropriate proceedings related to the |
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defendant's release on personal bond under Article 17.032; |
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(2) resume or initiate competency proceedings, if |
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required, as provided by Chapter 46B or other proceedings affecting |
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the defendant's receipt of appropriate court-ordered mental health |
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or intellectual disability [mental retardation] services, |
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including proceedings related to the defendant's receipt of |
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outpatient mental health services under Section 574.034, Health and |
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Safety Code; or |
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(3) consider the written assessment during the |
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punishment phase after a conviction of the offense for which the |
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defendant was arrested, as part of a presentence investigation |
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report, or in connection with the impositions of conditions |
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following placement on community supervision, including deferred |
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adjudication community supervision. |
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(d) This article does not prevent the applicable court from, |
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before, during, or after the collection of information regarding |
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the defendant as described by this article: |
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(1) releasing a defendant who has a mental illness |
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[mentally ill] or is a person with an intellectual disability |
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[mentally retarded defendant] from custody on personal or surety |
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bond; or |
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(2) ordering an examination regarding the defendant's |
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competency to stand trial. |
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SECTION 2.02. Chapter 16, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 16.23 to read as follows: |
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Art. 16.23. DIVERSION OF PERSONS SUFFERING MENTAL HEALTH |
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CRISIS OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUE. (a) Each law enforcement agency |
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shall make a good faith effort to divert a person suffering a mental |
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health crisis or suffering from the effects of substance abuse to a |
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proper treatment center in the agency's jurisdiction if: |
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(1) there is an available and appropriate treatment |
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center in the agency's jurisdiction to which the agency may divert |
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the person; |
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(2) it is reasonable to divert the person; |
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(3) the offense that the person is accused of is a |
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misdemeanor, other than a misdemeanor involving violence; and |
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(4) the mental health crisis or substance abuse issue |
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is suspected to be the reason the person committed the alleged |
|
offense. |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a person who is accused |
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of an offense under Section 49.04, 49.045, 49.05, 49.06, 49.065, |
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49.07, or 49.08, Penal Code. |
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SECTION 2.03. Section 539.002, Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 539.002. GRANTS FOR ESTABLISHMENT AND EXPANSION OF |
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COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVES. (a) To the extent funds are |
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appropriated to the department for that purpose, the department |
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shall make grants to entities, including local governmental |
|
entities, nonprofit community organizations, and faith-based |
|
community organizations, to establish or expand community |
|
collaboratives that bring the public and private sectors together |
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to provide services to persons experiencing homelessness, |
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substance abuse issues, or [and] mental illness. [The department
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may make a maximum of five grants, which must be made in the most
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populous municipalities in this state that are located in counties
|
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with a population of more than one million.] In awarding grants, |
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the department shall give special consideration to entities: |
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(1) establishing [a] new collaboratives; or |
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(2) establishing or expanding collaboratives that |
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serve two or more counties, each with a population of less than |
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100,000 [collaborative]. |
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(b) The department shall require each entity awarded a grant |
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under this section to: |
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(1) leverage additional funding from private sources |
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in an amount that is at least equal to the amount of the grant |
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awarded under this section; [and] |
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(2) provide evidence of significant coordination and |
|
collaboration between the entity, local mental health authorities, |
|
municipalities, local law enforcement agencies, and other |
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community stakeholders in establishing or expanding a community |
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collaborative funded by a grant awarded under this section; and |
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(3) provide evidence of a local law enforcement policy |
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to divert appropriate persons from jails or other detention |
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facilities to an entity affiliated with a community collaborative |
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for the purpose of providing services to those persons. |
|
SECTION 2.04. Chapter 539, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Section 539.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 539.0051. PLAN REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN COMMUNITY |
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COLLABORATIVES. (a) The governing body of a county shall develop |
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and make public a plan detailing: |
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(1) how local mental health authorities, |
|
municipalities, local law enforcement agencies, and other |
|
community stakeholders in the county could coordinate to establish |
|
or expand a community collaborative to accomplish the goals of |
|
Section 539.002; |
|
(2) how entities in the county may leverage funding |
|
from private sources to accomplish the goals of Section 539.002 |
|
through the formation or expansion of a community collaborative; |
|
and |
|
(3) how the formation or expansion of a community |
|
collaborative could establish or support resources or services to |
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help local law enforcement agencies to divert persons who have been |
|
arrested to appropriate mental health care or substance abuse |
|
treatment. |
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(b) The governing body of a county in which an entity that |
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received a grant under Section 539.002 before September 1, 2017, is |
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located is not required to develop a plan under Subsection (a). |
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(c) Two or more counties, each with a population of less |
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than 100,000, may form a joint plan under Subsection (a). |
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ARTICLE 3. BAIL, PRETRIAL RELEASE, AND COUNTY JAIL STANDARDS |
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SECTION 3.01. The heading to Article 17.032, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 17.032. RELEASE ON PERSONAL BOND OF CERTAIN [MENTALLY
|
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ILL] DEFENDANTS WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY. |
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SECTION 3.02. Articles 17.032(b) and (c), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) A magistrate shall release a defendant on personal bond |
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unless good cause is shown otherwise if the: |
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(1) defendant is not charged with and has not been |
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previously convicted of a violent offense; |
|
(2) defendant is examined by the local mental health |
|
or intellectual and developmental disability [mental retardation] |
|
authority or another mental health expert under Article 16.22 [of
|
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this code]; |
|
(3) applicable expert, in a written assessment |
|
submitted to the magistrate under Article 16.22: |
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(A) concludes that the defendant has a mental |
|
illness or is a person with an intellectual disability [mental
|
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retardation] and is nonetheless competent to stand trial; and |
|
(B) recommends mental health treatment or |
|
intellectual disability treatment for the defendant, as |
|
applicable; and |
|
(4) magistrate determines, in consultation with the |
|
local mental health or intellectual and developmental disability |
|
[mental retardation] authority, that appropriate community-based |
|
mental health or intellectual disability [mental retardation] |
|
services for the defendant are available through the [Texas] |
|
Department of State [Mental] Health Services [and Mental
|
|
Retardation] under Section 534.053, Health and Safety Code, or |
|
through another mental health or intellectual disability [mental
|
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retardation] services provider. |
|
(c) The magistrate, unless good cause is shown for not |
|
requiring treatment, shall require as a condition of release on |
|
personal bond under this article that the defendant submit to |
|
outpatient or inpatient mental health or intellectual disability |
|
[mental retardation] treatment as recommended by the local mental |
|
health or intellectual and developmental disability [mental
|
|
retardation] authority if the defendant's: |
|
(1) mental illness or intellectual disability [mental
|
|
retardation] is chronic in nature; or |
|
(2) ability to function independently will continue to |
|
deteriorate if the defendant is not treated. |
|
SECTION 3.03. Article 25.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 25.03. IF ON BAIL IN FELONY. When the accused, in case |
|
of felony, is on bail at the time the indictment is presented, [it
|
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is not necessary to serve him with a copy, but] the clerk shall [on
|
|
request] deliver a copy of the indictment [same] to the accused or |
|
the accused's [his] counsel[,] at the earliest possible time. |
|
SECTION 3.04. Article 25.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 25.04. IN MISDEMEANOR. In misdemeanors, the clerk |
|
shall deliver a copy of the indictment or information to the accused |
|
or the accused's counsel at the earliest possible time before trial |
|
[it shall not be necessary before trial to furnish the accused with
|
|
a copy of the indictment or information; but he or his counsel may
|
|
demand a copy, which shall be given as early as possible]. |
|
SECTION 3.05. Section 511.009(a), Government Code, as |
|
amended by Chapters 281 (H.B. 875), 648 (H.B. 549), and 688 (H.B. |
|
634), Acts of the 84th Legislature, Regular Session, 2015, is |
|
reenacted and amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) The commission shall: |
|
(1) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
establishing minimum standards for the construction, equipment, |
|
maintenance, and operation of county jails; |
|
(2) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
establishing minimum standards for the custody, care, and treatment |
|
of prisoners; |
|
(3) adopt reasonable rules establishing minimum |
|
standards for the number of jail supervisory personnel and for |
|
programs and services to meet the needs of prisoners; |
|
(4) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
establishing minimum requirements for programs of rehabilitation, |
|
education, and recreation in county jails; |
|
(5) revise, amend, or change rules and procedures if |
|
necessary; |
|
(6) provide to local government officials |
|
consultation on and technical assistance for county jails; |
|
(7) review and comment on plans for the construction |
|
and major modification or renovation of county jails; |
|
(8) require that the sheriff and commissioners of each |
|
county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
|
commission, an annual report on the conditions in each county jail |
|
within their jurisdiction, including all information necessary to |
|
determine compliance with state law, commission orders, and the |
|
rules adopted under this chapter; |
|
(9) review the reports submitted under Subdivision (8) |
|
and require commission employees to inspect county jails regularly |
|
to ensure compliance with state law, commission orders, and rules |
|
and procedures adopted under this chapter; |
|
(10) adopt a classification system to assist sheriffs |
|
and judges in determining which defendants are low-risk and |
|
consequently suitable participants in a county jail work release |
|
program under Article 42.034, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(11) adopt rules relating to requirements for |
|
segregation of classes of inmates and to capacities for county |
|
jails; |
|
(12) require that the chief jailer of each municipal |
|
lockup submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
|
commission, an annual report of persons under 17 years of age |
|
securely detained in the lockup, including all information |
|
necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure |
|
confinement of children in municipal lockups; |
|
(13) at least annually determine whether each county |
|
jail is in compliance with the rules and procedures adopted under |
|
this chapter; |
|
(14) require that the sheriff and commissioners court |
|
of each county submit to the commission, on a form prescribed by the |
|
commission, an annual report of persons under 17 years of age |
|
securely detained in the county jail, including all information |
|
necessary to determine compliance with state law concerning secure |
|
confinement of children in county jails; |
|
(15) schedule announced and unannounced inspections |
|
of jails under the commission's jurisdiction using the risk |
|
assessment plan established under Section 511.0085 to guide the |
|
inspections process; |
|
(16) adopt a policy for gathering and distributing to |
|
jails under the commission's jurisdiction information regarding: |
|
(A) common issues concerning jail |
|
administration; |
|
(B) examples of successful strategies for |
|
maintaining compliance with state law and the rules, standards, and |
|
procedures of the commission; and |
|
(C) solutions to operational challenges for |
|
jails; |
|
(17) report to the Texas Correctional Office on |
|
Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments on a jail's compliance |
|
with Article 16.22, Code of Criminal Procedure; |
|
(18) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
establishing minimum requirements for jails to: |
|
(A) determine if a prisoner is pregnant; and |
|
(B) ensure that the jail's health services plan |
|
addresses medical and mental health care, including nutritional |
|
requirements, and any special housing or work assignment needs for |
|
persons who are confined in the jail and are known or determined to |
|
be pregnant; |
|
(19) provide guidelines to sheriffs regarding |
|
contracts between a sheriff and another entity for the provision of |
|
food services to or the operation of a commissary in a jail under |
|
the commission's jurisdiction, including specific provisions |
|
regarding conflicts of interest and avoiding the appearance of |
|
impropriety; [and] |
|
(20) adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
establishing minimum standards for prisoner visitation that |
|
provide each prisoner at a county jail with a minimum of two |
|
in-person, noncontact visitation periods per week of at least 20 |
|
minutes duration each; |
|
(21) [(20)] require the sheriff of each county to: |
|
(A) investigate and verify the veteran status of |
|
each prisoner by using data made available from the Veterans |
|
Reentry Search Service (VRSS) operated by the United States |
|
Department of Veterans Affairs or a similar service; and |
|
(B) use the data described by Paragraph (A) to |
|
assist prisoners who are veterans in applying for federal benefits |
|
or compensation for which the prisoners may be eligible under a |
|
program administered by the United States Department of Veterans |
|
Affairs; |
|
(22) [(20)] adopt reasonable rules and procedures |
|
regarding visitation of a prisoner at a county jail by a guardian, |
|
as defined by Section 1002.012, Estates Code, that: |
|
(A) allow visitation by a guardian to the same |
|
extent as the prisoner's next of kin, including placing the |
|
guardian on the prisoner's approved visitors list on the guardian's |
|
request and providing the guardian access to the prisoner during a |
|
facility's standard visitation hours if the prisoner is otherwise |
|
eligible to receive visitors; and |
|
(B) require the guardian to provide the sheriff |
|
with letters of guardianship issued as provided by Section |
|
1106.001, Estates Code, before being allowed to visit the prisoner; |
|
and |
|
(23) adopt reasonable rules and procedures to ensure |
|
the safety of prisoners, including rules and procedures that |
|
require a county jail to: |
|
(A) give prisoners the ability to access a mental |
|
health professional at the jail through a telemental health service |
|
24 hours a day; |
|
(B) give prisoners the ability to access a health |
|
professional at the jail or through a telehealth service 24 hours a |
|
day or, if a health professional is unavailable at the jail or |
|
through a telehealth service, provide for a prisoner to be |
|
transported to access a health professional; and |
|
(C) if funding is available under Section |
|
511.019, install automated electronic sensors or cameras to ensure |
|
accurate and timely in-person checks of cells or groups of cells |
|
confining at-risk individuals. |
|
SECTION 3.06. Section 511.009, Government Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
|
(d) The commission shall adopt reasonable rules and |
|
procedures establishing minimum standards regarding the continuity |
|
of prescription medications for the care and treatment of |
|
prisoners. The rules and procedures shall require that a qualified |
|
medical professional shall review as soon as possible any |
|
prescription medication a prisoner is taking when the prisoner is |
|
taken into custody. |
|
SECTION 3.07. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Sections 511.019, 511.020, and 511.021 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 511.019. PRISONER SAFETY FUND. (a) The prisoner |
|
safety fund is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund. |
|
(b) The prisoner safety fund consists of: |
|
(1) appropriations of money to the fund by the |
|
legislature; and |
|
(2) gifts, grants, including grants from the federal |
|
government, and other donations received for the fund. |
|
(c) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the |
|
commission to pay for capital improvements that are required under |
|
Section 511.009(a)(23). |
|
(d) The commission by rule may establish a grant program to |
|
provide grants to counties to fund capital improvements described |
|
by Subsection (c). The commission may only provide a grant to a |
|
county for capital improvements to a county jail with a capacity of |
|
not more than 96 prisoners. |
|
Sec. 511.020. SERIOUS INCIDENTS REPORT. (a) On or before |
|
the fifth day of each month, the sheriff of each county shall report |
|
to the commission regarding the occurrence during the preceding |
|
month of any of the following incidents involving a prisoner in the |
|
county jail: |
|
(1) a suicide; |
|
(2) an attempted suicide; |
|
(3) a death; |
|
(4) a serious bodily injury, as that term is defined by |
|
Section 1.07, Penal Code; |
|
(5) an assault; |
|
(6) an escape; |
|
(7) a sexual assault; and |
|
(8) any use of force resulting in bodily injury, as |
|
that term is defined by Section 1.07, Penal Code. |
|
(b) The commission shall prescribe a form for the report |
|
required by Subsection (a). |
|
(c) The information required to be reported under |
|
Subsection (a)(8) may not include the name or other identifying |
|
information of a county jailer or jail employee. |
|
(d) The information reported under Subsection (a) is public |
|
information subject to an open records request under Chapter 552. |
|
Sec. 511.021. INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION OF DEATH OCCURRING |
|
IN COUNTY JAIL. (a) On the death of a prisoner in a county jail, |
|
the commission shall appoint a law enforcement agency, other than |
|
the local law enforcement agency that operates the county jail, to |
|
investigate the death as soon as possible. |
|
(b) The commission shall adopt any rules necessary relating |
|
to the appointment of a law enforcement agency under Subsection |
|
(a), including rules relating to cooperation between law |
|
enforcement agencies and to procedures for handling evidence. |
|
SECTION 3.08. The changes in law made by this article to |
|
Article 17.032, Code of Criminal Procedure, apply only to a |
|
personal bond that is executed on or after the effective date of |
|
this Act. A personal bond executed before the effective date of |
|
this Act is governed by the law in effect when the personal bond was |
|
executed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
|
purpose. |
|
SECTION 3.09. Not later than January 1, 2018, the |
|
Commission on Jail Standards shall: |
|
(1) adopt the rules and procedures required by Section |
|
511.009(d), Government Code, as added by this article, and the |
|
rules required by Section 511.021(b), Government Code, as added by |
|
this article; and |
|
(2) prescribe the form required by Section 511.020(b), |
|
Government Code, as added by this article. |
|
SECTION 3.10. Not later than September 1, 2018, the |
|
Commission on Jail Standards shall adopt the rules and procedures |
|
required by Section 511.009(a)(23), Government Code, as added by |
|
this article. On and after September 1, 2020, a county jail shall |
|
comply with any rule or procedure adopted by the Commission on Jail |
|
Standards under that subdivision. |
|
SECTION 3.11. To the extent of any conflict, this Act |
|
prevails over another Act of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, |
|
2017, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in |
|
enacted codes. |
|
ARTICLE 4. PEACE OFFICER AND COUNTY JAILER TRAINING |
|
SECTION 4.01. Chapter 511, Government Code, is amended by |
|
adding Section 511.00905 to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 511.00905. JAIL ADMINISTRATOR POSITION; EXAMINATION |
|
REQUIRED. (a) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall |
|
develop and the commission shall approve an examination for a |
|
person assigned to the jail administrator position overseeing a |
|
county jail. |
|
(b) The commission shall adopt rules requiring a person, |
|
other than a sheriff, assigned to the jail administrator position |
|
overseeing a county jail to pass the examination not later than the |
|
180th day after the date the person is assigned to that position. |
|
The rules must provide that a person who fails the examination may |
|
be immediately removed from the position and may not be reinstated |
|
until the person passes the examination. |
|
(c) The sheriff of a county shall perform the duties of the |
|
jail administrator position at any time there is not a person |
|
available who satisfies the examination requirements of this |
|
section. |
|
(d) A person other than a sheriff may not serve in the jail |
|
administrator position of a county jail unless the person satisfies |
|
the examination requirement of this section. |
|
SECTION 4.02. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (j) and adding Subsection (n) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(j) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
|
commission shall require an officer to complete a 40-hour statewide |
|
education and training program on de-escalation and crisis |
|
intervention techniques to facilitate interaction with persons |
|
with mental impairments. An officer shall complete the program not |
|
later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is |
|
licensed under this chapter or the date the officer applies for an |
|
intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever date is earlier. |
|
An officer may not satisfy the requirements of this subsection |
|
[section] or Section 1701.402(g) by taking an online course on |
|
de-escalation and crisis intervention techniques to facilitate |
|
interaction with persons with mental impairments. |
|
(n) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
|
commission shall require an officer to complete a statewide |
|
education and training program on de-escalation techniques to |
|
facilitate interaction with members of the public, including |
|
techniques for limiting the use of force resulting in bodily |
|
injury. |
|
SECTION 4.03. Section 1701.310(a), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), a person may not |
|
be appointed as a county jailer, except on a temporary basis, unless |
|
the person has satisfactorily completed a preparatory training |
|
program, as required by the commission, in the operation of a county |
|
jail at a school operated or licensed by the commission. The |
|
training program must consist of at least eight hours of mental |
|
health training approved by the commission and the Commission on |
|
Jail Standards. |
|
SECTION 4.04. Section 1701.352(b), Occupations Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The commission shall require a state, county, special |
|
district, or municipal agency that appoints or employs peace |
|
officers to provide each peace officer with a training program at |
|
least once every 48 months that is approved by the commission and |
|
consists of: |
|
(1) topics selected by the agency; and |
|
(2) for an officer holding only a basic proficiency |
|
certificate, not more than 20 hours of education and training that |
|
contain curricula incorporating the learning objectives developed |
|
by the commission regarding: |
|
(A) civil rights, racial sensitivity, and |
|
cultural diversity; |
|
(B) de-escalation and crisis intervention |
|
techniques to facilitate interaction with persons with mental |
|
impairments; [and] |
|
(C) de-escalation techniques to facilitate |
|
interaction with members of the public, including techniques for |
|
limiting the use of force resulting in bodily injury; and |
|
(D) unless determined by the agency head to be |
|
inconsistent with the officer's assigned duties: |
|
(i) the recognition and documentation of |
|
cases that involve child abuse or neglect, family violence, and |
|
sexual assault; and |
|
(ii) issues concerning sex offender |
|
characteristics. |
|
SECTION 4.05. Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, is |
|
amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows: |
|
(n) As a requirement for an intermediate proficiency |
|
certificate or an advanced proficiency certificate, an officer must |
|
complete the education and training program regarding |
|
de-escalation techniques to facilitate interaction with members of |
|
the public established by the commission under Section 1701.253(n). |
|
SECTION 4.06. Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas |
|
Commission on Law Enforcement shall develop and the Commission on |
|
Jail Standards shall approve the examination required by Section |
|
511.00905, Government Code, as added by this article. |
|
SECTION 4.07. (a) Not later than March 1, 2018, the Texas |
|
Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish or modify training |
|
programs as necessary to comply with Section 1701.253, Occupations |
|
Code, as amended by this article. |
|
(b) The minimum curriculum requirements under Section |
|
1701.253(j), Occupations Code, as amended by this article, apply |
|
only to a peace officer who first begins to satisfy those |
|
requirements on or after April 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 4.08. (a) Section 1701.310, Occupations Code, as |
|
amended by this article, takes effect January 1, 2018. |
|
(b) A person in the position of county jailer on September |
|
1, 2017, must comply with Section 1701.310(a), Occupations Code, as |
|
amended by this article, not later than August 31, 2021. |
|
ARTICLE 5. MOTOR VEHICLE STOPS, RACIAL PROFILING, AND ISSUANCE OF |
|
CITATIONS |
|
SECTION 5.01. Article 2.132, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection |
|
(h) to read as follows: |
|
(b) Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a |
|
detailed written policy on racial profiling. The policy must: |
|
(1) clearly define acts constituting racial |
|
profiling; |
|
(2) strictly prohibit peace officers employed by the |
|
agency from engaging in racial profiling; |
|
(3) implement a process by which an individual may |
|
file a complaint with the agency if the individual believes that a |
|
peace officer employed by the agency has engaged in racial |
|
profiling with respect to the individual; |
|
(4) provide public education relating to the agency's |
|
compliment and complaint process, including providing the |
|
telephone number, mailing address, and e-mail address to make a |
|
compliment or complaint with respect to each ticket, citation, or |
|
warning issued by a peace officer; |
|
(5) require appropriate corrective action to be taken |
|
against a peace officer employed by the agency who, after an |
|
investigation, is shown to have engaged in racial profiling in |
|
violation of the agency's policy adopted under this article; |
|
(6) require collection of information relating to |
|
motor vehicle stops in which a ticket, citation, or warning is |
|
issued and to arrests made as a result of those stops, including |
|
information relating to: |
|
(A) the race or ethnicity of the individual |
|
detained; |
|
(B) whether a search was conducted and, if so, |
|
whether the individual detained consented to the search; [and] |
|
(C) whether the peace officer knew the race or |
|
ethnicity of the individual detained before detaining that |
|
individual; |
|
(D) whether the peace officer used physical force |
|
that resulted in bodily injury, as that term is defined by Section |
|
1.07, Penal Code, during the stop; |
|
(E) the location of the stop; and |
|
(F) the reason for the stop; and |
|
(7) require the chief administrator of the agency, |
|
regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
|
appointed, to submit an annual report of the information collected |
|
under Subdivision (6) to: |
|
(A) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; and |
|
(B) the governing body of each county or |
|
municipality served by the agency, if the agency is an agency of a |
|
county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. |
|
(d) On adoption of a policy under Subsection (b), a law |
|
enforcement agency shall examine the feasibility of installing |
|
video camera and transmitter-activated equipment in each agency law |
|
enforcement motor vehicle regularly used to make motor vehicle |
|
stops and transmitter-activated equipment in each agency law |
|
enforcement motorcycle regularly used to make motor vehicle stops. |
|
The agency also shall examine the feasibility of equipping each |
|
peace officer who regularly detains or stops motor vehicles with a |
|
body worn camera, as that term is defined by Section 1701.651, |
|
Occupations Code. If a law enforcement agency installs video or |
|
audio equipment or equips peace officers with body worn cameras as |
|
provided by this subsection, the policy adopted by the agency under |
|
Subsection (b) must include standards for reviewing video and audio |
|
documentation. |
|
(h) A law enforcement agency shall review the data collected |
|
under Subsection (b)(6) to identify any improvements the agency |
|
could make in its practices and policies regarding motor vehicle |
|
stops. |
|
SECTION 5.02. Article 2.133, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) A peace officer who stops a motor vehicle for an alleged |
|
violation of a law or ordinance shall report to the law enforcement |
|
agency that employs the officer information relating to the stop, |
|
including: |
|
(1) a physical description of any person operating the |
|
motor vehicle who is detained as a result of the stop, including: |
|
(A) the person's gender; and |
|
(B) the person's race or ethnicity, as stated by |
|
the person or, if the person does not state the person's race or |
|
ethnicity, as determined by the officer to the best of the officer's |
|
ability; |
|
(2) the initial reason for the stop; |
|
(3) whether the officer conducted a search as a result |
|
of the stop and, if so, whether the person detained consented to the |
|
search; |
|
(4) whether any contraband or other evidence was |
|
discovered in the course of the search and a description of the |
|
contraband or evidence; |
|
(5) the reason for the search, including whether: |
|
(A) any contraband or other evidence was in plain |
|
view; |
|
(B) any probable cause or reasonable suspicion |
|
existed to perform the search; or |
|
(C) the search was performed as a result of the |
|
towing of the motor vehicle or the arrest of any person in the motor |
|
vehicle; |
|
(6) whether the officer made an arrest as a result of |
|
the stop or the search, including a statement of whether the arrest |
|
was based on a violation of the Penal Code, a violation of a traffic |
|
law or ordinance, or an outstanding warrant and a statement of the |
|
offense charged; |
|
(7) the street address or approximate location of the |
|
stop; [and] |
|
(8) whether the officer issued a verbal or written |
|
warning or a ticket or citation as a result of the stop; and |
|
(9) whether the officer used physical force that |
|
resulted in bodily injury, as that term is defined by Section 1.07, |
|
Penal Code, during the stop. |
|
(c) The chief administrator of a law enforcement agency, |
|
regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
|
appointed, is responsible for auditing reports under Subsection (b) |
|
to ensure that the race or ethnicity of the person operating the |
|
motor vehicle is being reported. |
|
SECTION 5.03. Article 2.134(c), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
|
is amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) A report required under Subsection (b) must be submitted |
|
by the chief administrator of the law enforcement agency, |
|
regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
|
appointed, and must include: |
|
(1) a comparative analysis of the information compiled |
|
under Article 2.133 to: |
|
(A) evaluate and compare the number of motor |
|
vehicle stops, within the applicable jurisdiction, of persons who |
|
are recognized as racial or ethnic minorities and persons who are |
|
not recognized as racial or ethnic minorities; [and] |
|
(B) examine the disposition of motor vehicle |
|
stops made by officers employed by the agency, categorized |
|
according to the race or ethnicity of the affected persons, as |
|
appropriate, including any searches resulting from stops within the |
|
applicable jurisdiction; and |
|
(C) evaluate and compare the number of searches |
|
resulting from motor vehicle stops within the applicable |
|
jurisdiction and whether contraband or other evidence was |
|
discovered in the course of those searches; and |
|
(2) information relating to each complaint filed with |
|
the agency alleging that a peace officer employed by the agency has |
|
engaged in racial profiling. |
|
SECTION 5.04. Article 2.137, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Art. 2.137. PROVISION OF FUNDING OR EQUIPMENT. (a) The |
|
Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules for providing funds |
|
or video and audio equipment to law enforcement agencies for the |
|
purpose of installing video and audio equipment in law enforcement |
|
motor vehicles and motorcycles or equipping peace officers with |
|
body worn cameras [as described by Article 2.135(a)(1)(A)], |
|
including specifying criteria to prioritize funding or equipment |
|
provided to law enforcement agencies. The criteria may include |
|
consideration of tax effort, financial hardship, available |
|
revenue, and budget surpluses. The criteria must give priority to: |
|
(1) law enforcement agencies that employ peace |
|
officers whose primary duty is traffic enforcement; |
|
(2) smaller jurisdictions; and |
|
(3) municipal and county law enforcement agencies. |
|
(b) The Department of Public Safety shall collaborate with |
|
an institution of higher education to identify law enforcement |
|
agencies that need funds or video and audio equipment for the |
|
purpose of installing video and audio equipment in law enforcement |
|
motor vehicles and motorcycles or equipping peace officers with |
|
body worn cameras [as described by Article 2.135(a)(1)(A)]. The |
|
collaboration may include the use of a survey to assist in |
|
developing criteria to prioritize funding or equipment provided to |
|
law enforcement agencies. |
|
(c) To receive funds or video and audio equipment from the |
|
state for the purpose of installing video and audio equipment in law |
|
enforcement motor vehicles and motorcycles or equipping peace |
|
officers with body worn cameras [as described by Article
|
|
2.135(a)(1)(A)], the governing body of a county or municipality, in |
|
conjunction with the law enforcement agency serving the county or |
|
municipality, shall certify to the Department of Public Safety that |
|
the law enforcement agency needs funds or video and audio equipment |
|
for that purpose. |
|
(d) On receipt of funds or video and audio equipment from |
|
the state for the purpose of installing video and audio equipment in |
|
law enforcement motor vehicles and motorcycles or equipping peace |
|
officers with body worn cameras [as described by Article
|
|
2.135(a)(1)(A)], the governing body of a county or municipality, in |
|
conjunction with the law enforcement agency serving the county or |
|
municipality, shall certify to the Department of Public Safety that |
|
the law enforcement agency has taken the necessary actions to use |
|
and is using [installed] video and audio equipment and body worn |
|
cameras for those purposes [as described by Article 2.135(a)(1)(A)
|
|
and is using the equipment as required by Article 2.135(a)(1)]. |
|
SECTION 5.05. Article 2.1385(a), Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, is amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) If the chief administrator of a local law enforcement |
|
agency intentionally fails to submit the incident-based data as |
|
required by Article 2.134, the agency is liable to the state for a |
|
civil penalty in an [the] amount not to exceed $5,000 [of $1,000] |
|
for each violation. The attorney general may sue to collect a |
|
civil penalty under this subsection. |
|
SECTION 5.06. Article 2.135, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
|
repealed. |
|
SECTION 5.07. Articles 2.132 and 2.134, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, as amended by this article, apply only to a report |
|
covering a calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2018. |
|
SECTION 5.08. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas |
|
Commission on Law Enforcement shall: |
|
(1) evaluate and change the guidelines for compiling |
|
and reporting information required under Article 2.134, Code of |
|
Criminal Procedure, as amended by this article, to enable the |
|
guidelines to better withstand academic scrutiny; and |
|
(2) make accessible online: |
|
(A) a downloadable format of any information |
|
submitted under Article 2.134(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, that |
|
is not exempt from public disclosure under Chapter 552, Government |
|
Code; and |
|
(B) a glossary of terms relating to the |
|
information to make the information readily understandable to the |
|
public. |
|
ARTICLE 6. EFFECTIVE DATE |
|
SECTION 6.01. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, |
|
this Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |