Bill Text: TX HB272 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 272 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to a study of no-knock entries performed by law enforcement agencies in this state.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-25 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB272 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB272-Introduced.html

	87R1679 ADM-D

	By: Meza	H.B. No. 272



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to a study of no-knock entries performed by law
	enforcement agencies in this state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 411.056 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.056. REPORT ON NO-KNOCK ENTRIES BY LAW ENFORCEMENT
	AGENCIES. (a) In this section:
	(1) "Law enforcement agency" has the meaning assigned
	by Article 59.01, Code of Criminal Procedure.
	(2) "No-knock entry" means a peace officer's entry,
	for the purpose of executing a warrant, into a building or other
	place without giving notice of the officer's authority or purpose
	before entering.
	(b) Not later than December 1, 2022, a law enforcement
	agency that employs peace officers who perform no-knock entries
	shall report to the department, on a form prescribed by the
	director, the following information for the period beginning on
	November 1, 2021, and ending on October 31, 2022:
	(1) the number of no-knock entries performed by peace
	officers employed by the law enforcement agency; and
	(2) for each no-knock entry performed:
	(A) whether any peace officer suffered an injury
	or death as a result of the entry and a description of each injury
	and cause of death, as applicable;
	(B) whether any other person suffered an injury
	or death as a result of the entry and a description of each injury
	and cause of death, as applicable;
	(C) if the entry was performed for the purpose of
	executing a search warrant, a description of the property to be
	searched for and of any property seized;
	(D) if the entry was performed for the purpose of
	executing an arrest warrant, the name of the person whose arrest was
	ordered and the offense the person was accused of committing; and
	(E) the name of any person arrested.
	(c) Not later than January 1, 2023, the director shall
	summarize the information received under Subsection (b) in a report
	to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each standing
	committee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
	criminal justice matters. The report must contain the following
	information:
	(1) the total number of no-knock entries performed by
	each law enforcement agency, and the number performed for each of
	the following categories of offenses:
	(A) offenses involving violence;
	(B) nonviolent offenses; and
	(C) drug-related offenses;
	(2) the total number of peace officers and other
	persons who suffered an injury or death as a result of a no-knock
	entry;
	(3) for no-knock entries that were performed for the
	purpose of executing a search warrant, the proportion of those
	entries in which the property described by the warrant was seized;
	and
	(4) for no-knock entries that were performed for the
	purpose of executing an arrest warrant, the proportion of those
	entries in which the person named in the warrant was arrested.
	(d) Not later than December 1, 2021, the director shall
	promulgate the form required under Subsection (b).
	(e) This section expires September 1, 2023.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2021.