Bill Text: TX HB2655 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to a Department of Public Safety database concerning peace officer misconduct.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-17 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB2655 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB2655-Introduced.html
| 87R8818 MAW-D | ||
| By: Crockett | H.B. No. 2655 | |
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| relating to a Department of Public Safety database concerning peace | ||
| officer misconduct. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is | ||
| amended by adding Article 2.1397 to read as follows: | ||
| Art. 2.1397. DUTIES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY REGARDING | ||
| PEACE OFFICER MISCONDUCT. (a) In this article, "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. | ||
| (b) A law enforcement agency shall promptly report to the | ||
| Department of Public Safety for inclusion in the database | ||
| established under Section 411.056, Government Code, each | ||
| allegation of misconduct concerning a peace officer employed by the | ||
| agency. The report must be made on the form adopted by that | ||
| department and must include information regarding: | ||
| (1) the nature of the allegation; | ||
| (2) the results of the agency's investigation of the | ||
| allegation; and | ||
| (3) any disciplinary action taken by the agency as a | ||
| result of the allegation. | ||
| SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 411.056 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 411.056. DATABASE OF PEACE OFFICER MISCONDUCT; REPORT. | ||
| (a) The department shall: | ||
| (1) adopt a form for the reporting of misconduct | ||
| allegations under Article 2.1397, Code of Criminal Procedure; | ||
| (2) establish a database for information concerning | ||
| reports received under that article; and | ||
| (3) make the database accessible to law enforcement | ||
| agencies in this state. | ||
| (b) Not later than June 1 and December 1 of each year, the | ||
| department shall submit a report regarding peace officer misconduct | ||
| to the governor, lieutenant governor, and each standing committee | ||
| of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over criminal justice | ||
| matters. The report must include information regarding the type | ||
| and frequency of misconduct allegations in this state. | ||
| (c) The department shall make each report submitted under | ||
| Subsection (b) available on the department's Internet website. | ||
| SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2022, the Department of | ||
| Public Safety of the State of Texas shall adopt the form and | ||
| establish the database as required by Section 411.056, Government | ||
| Code, as added by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 4. The Department of Public Safety of the State of | ||
| Texas shall submit its first report under Section 411.056(b), | ||
| Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than June 1, 2022. | ||
| SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
