Bill Text: TX HB1513 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | 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.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
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 |
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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. |