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. |