Bill Text: TX HB1513 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 1513 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to law enforcement policies prohibiting a peace officer from using less lethal projectiles for the purpose of controlling the activity or movement of a gathering of people.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-04-15 - Left pending in committee [HB1513 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1513-Introduced.html

	87R7113 JCG-D

	By: Zwiener	H.B. No. 1513



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to law enforcement policies prohibiting a peace officer
	from using less lethal projectiles for the purpose of controlling
	the activity or movement of a gathering of people.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended by adding Article 2.33 to read as follows:
	Art. 2.33. LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY PROHIBITING USE OF
	CERTAIN AMMUNITION FOR CROWD CONTROL. (a) In this article:
	(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the
	state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state
	authorized by law to employ peace officers.
	(2) "Less lethal projectile" means ammunition that is
	discharged from a firearm or other device for the purpose of
	incapacitating or substantially diminishing the capacity of the
	target by inflicting blunt trauma and that is designed to reduce the
	risk of serious bodily injury or death compared to more commonly
	used ammunition such as bullets or other projectiles composed
	primarily or entirely of metal. The term includes ammunition
	commonly known as "rubber bullets," "wooden bullets," "sponge
	rounds," and "bean bag rounds."
	(b) Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a
	policy on crowd control that prohibits a peace officer employed by
	the agency from using less lethal projectiles as a means to control
	the activity or movement of a gathering of people.
	SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, each law
	enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by
	Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.