Bill Text: TX HCR140 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the confidentiality of emergency calls.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-12 - Signed by the Governor [HCR140 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HCR140-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Requesting the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study regarding the confidentiality of emergency calls.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-06-12 - Signed by the Governor [HCR140 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HCR140-Introduced.html
85R30168 TJB-D | ||
By: Hunter | H.C.R. No. 140 |
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WHEREAS, Residents of this state have made inquiries about | ||
the process, rules, handling, and processing of recordings and | ||
transcripts of emergency calls made to public safety agencies in | ||
this state; and | ||
WHEREAS, The principle of open and transparent government can | ||
coexist with respect for the privacy of families grieving from the | ||
loss of a loved one; and | ||
WHEREAS, Certain entities have released the recording of an | ||
emergency call that includes the voice of an individual who | ||
subsequently died as a result of the emergency for which the call | ||
was made; and | ||
WHEREAS, The family members of those individuals can be | ||
unnecessarily traumatized by hearing or learning of what are often | ||
the last words of the individual who made the emergency call; now, | ||
therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative | ||
committee to study the process, rules, handling, and processing of | ||
the disclosure of recordings and transcripts of emergency calls | ||
made by a subsequently deceased individual to a public safety | ||
agency or a public safety answering point, as those terms are | ||
defined by Section 771.001, Health and Safety Code; and, be it | ||
further | ||
RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including | ||
findings and recommendations, to the 86th Texas Legislature when it | ||
convenes in January 2019. |