Bill Text: TX HB959 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to municipal civilian complaint review boards in certain municipalities.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-07 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB959 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB959-Comm_Sub.html

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87R4731 SMT-D
By: Reynolds, Crockett, Morales Shaw, Campos, H.B. No. 959
Allen

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to municipal civilian complaint review boards in certain
municipalities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 5, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 143A to read as follows:
CHAPTER 143A. MUNICIPAL CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARDS IN
CERTAIN MUNICIPALITIES
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 143A.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
Sec. 143A.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means a municipal civilian complaint
review board.
(2) "Peace officer" means a peace officer described by
Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, appointed or employed to
serve as a peace officer for a municipality.
Sec. 143A.003. MUNICIPAL CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD.
A board is established in each municipality subject to this chapter
to investigate complaints alleging peace officer misconduct.
SUBCHAPTER B. MUNICIPAL CIVILIAN COMPLAINT REVIEW BOARD
Sec. 143A.051. COMPOSITION OF BOARD. A board consists of
five public members appointed as follows:
(1) two members appointed by the presiding officer of
the governing body of the municipality, one of whom must be
appointed from a list of municipal residents submitted to the
presiding officer by the governing body of the municipality;
(2) one member appointed by the county judge of the
county in which the municipality is wholly or primarily located;
(3) one member appointed by the police chief of the
municipal police department; and
(4) one member appointed by the commissioners court of
the county in which the municipality is wholly or primarily
located.
Sec. 143A.052. INELIGIBILITY. A person is ineligible to
serve as a board member if the person:
(1) is a municipal employee;
(2) holds a public office; or
(3) has experience as a law enforcement professional,
including as:
(A) a peace officer;
(B) a criminal investigator;
(C) a special agent; or
(D) a managerial or supervisory employee with
substantial policy discretion on law enforcement matters in a
federal, state, or local law enforcement agency, other than as an
attorney in a prosecutorial agency.
Sec. 143A.053. TERMS. A board member is appointed for a
two-year term.
Sec. 143A.054. PRESIDING OFFICER. The presiding officer of
the governing body of the municipality shall designate a board
member to serve as the presiding officer of the board at the
pleasure of the presiding officer of the governing body of the
municipality.
Sec. 143A.055. GROUNDS FOR REMOVAL OF BOARD MEMBER. (a) A
board member may be removed from a board if the member:
(1) is ineligible for membership under Section
143A.052;
(2) cannot discharge the member's duties for a
substantial part of the member's term because of illness or
disability; or
(3) is absent from more than half of the regularly
scheduled board meetings during a calendar year without an excuse
approved by a majority vote of the board.
(b) The validity of an action of a board is not affected by
the fact that it is taken when a ground for removal of a board member
exists.
(c) If the executive director of a board or another board
member has knowledge that a potential ground for removal exists,
the executive director or board member shall notify the presiding
officer of the board of the potential ground. The presiding officer
shall then notify the presiding officer of the governing body of the
municipality that a potential ground for removal exists. If the
potential ground for removal involves the presiding officer of the
board, the executive director or board member shall notify the next
highest ranking officer of the board, who shall then notify the
presiding officer of the governing body of the municipality that a
potential ground for removal exists.
Sec. 143A.056. VACANCY. A vacancy on a board shall be
filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the original
appointment.
Sec. 143A.057. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. (a) A board member
is entitled to a per diem of $150 for each day the member engages in
board business. The total per diem a board member may receive
during a fiscal year may not exceed $5,000.
(b) A board member is entitled to reimbursement for actual
and necessary expenses incurred in performing the duties of the
board.
SUBCHAPTER C. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 143A.101. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. A board shall employ an
executive director if necessary to administer the policies of the
board.
Sec. 143A.102. PERSONNEL. A board may employ personnel as
necessary to exercise its powers and fulfill its duties under this
chapter.
Sec. 143A.103. RULES. A board may adopt rules as necessary
to implement this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER D. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS
Sec. 143A.151. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINTS. A board may
investigate a complaint that alleges peace officer misconduct
involving:
(1) excessive use of force;
(2) improper use of power to threaten, intimidate, or
otherwise mistreat a member of the public;
(3) a threat of force;
(4) an unlawful act, search, or seizure; or
(5) other abuses of authority.
Sec. 143A.152. FILING OR BOARD INITIATION OF COMPLAINT. A
complaint may be:
(1) filed under Section 143A.153; or
(2) initiated by a majority vote of the board.
Sec. 143A.153. COMPLAINT ALLEGING MISCONDUCT. (a) A person
may file a complaint with a board alleging peace officer
misconduct.
(b) A complaint must:
(1) be in writing;
(2) allege the peace officer engaged in misconduct
described by Section 143A.151; and
(3) describe the alleged misconduct.
(c) A person may file a complaint regardless of whether the
person is the alleged victim of the misconduct.
Sec. 143A.154. COMPLAINT REVIEW PROCEDURE. A board shall:
(1) develop a system to promptly and efficiently act
on a complaint filed with the board;
(2) maintain information regarding:
(A) the parties to each complaint;
(B) the subject matter of each complaint;
(C) the results of the investigation of a
complaint; and
(D) the disposition of each complaint;
(3) make information available describing the board's
procedures for complaint investigation and resolution;
(4) take reasonable measures to ensure the
confidentiality of all complainants;
(5) periodically notify the parties to the complaint
in writing of the status of the complaint; and
(6) provide the parties to the complaint with the
name, address, and telephone number of an individual to contact in
order to give or obtain information regarding the complaint.
Sec. 143A.155. SUBPOENAS. (a) A board may issue a subpoena
to compel the attendance of a witness or the production of any book,
record, or other document reasonably necessary to conduct an
investigation. A subpoena must relate to a matter under
investigation by the board.
(b) If a person refuses to comply with a subpoena issued
under this section, the board may apply to a court for an order to
compel the person to comply with the subpoena. Failure to comply
with the court order is punishable as contempt.
Sec. 143A.156. DISMISSAL OF COMPLAINT; GROUNDS FOR CLOSING
INVESTIGATION. A board may dismiss a complaint and close an
investigation without reaching a final determination if the person
who filed the complaint or the alleged victim of misconduct
requests that the board dismiss the complaint.
Sec. 143A.157. INVESTIGATION OF COMPLAINT BY MUNICIPAL
ATTORNEY. (a) A board shall forward each complaint filed with the
board to the municipal attorney.
(b) The municipal attorney shall investigate the complaint
by:
(1) interviewing and obtaining a statement from:
(A) the complainant;
(B) each peace officer who is the subject of the
complaint; and
(C) each witness to the alleged misconduct; and
(2) obtaining any documentary or other evidence
relevant to the investigation.
(c) The municipal attorney shall complete the investigation
of a complaint not later than the 120th day after the date the
municipal attorney receives the complaint from the board.
Sec. 143A.158. COMPLAINT DETERMINATION AFTER
INVESTIGATION. (a) After an investigation of a complaint is
complete, the municipal attorney shall forward the results of the
investigation to the board or a panel of at least three board
members. The board or panel shall review the case and make a
determination on each allegation in the complaint that has not been
dismissed by the board. The determination of the board or panel
must be made not later than the 180th day after the date the board
receives the complaint.
(b) The board shall state the board's determination
regarding each allegation in a complaint as:
(1) substantiated if the board finds by a
preponderance of the evidence that the person who is the subject of
the complaint committed the alleged misconduct;
(2) exonerated if the board finds by a preponderance
of the evidence that the person who is the subject of the complaint
engaged in the action alleged in the complaint but the action was
not misconduct because the action was lawful and proper;
(3) unfounded if the board finds by a preponderance of
the evidence that the person who is the subject of the complaint did
not commit the alleged misconduct;
(4) unsubstantiated if the board finds that the
available evidence is insufficient to make a finding by a
preponderance of the evidence under Subdivision (1), (2), or (3);
or
(5) nonactionable if the board finds that the person
who is the subject of the complaint is no longer a peace officer or
cannot be identified.
Sec. 143A.159. NOTICE OF BOARD'S DETERMINATION. (a) A
board shall notify the parties to the complaint of the board's
determination.
(b) The board shall notify the employer of the peace officer
who is the subject of the complaint of the board's determination.
If the board finds that a complaint is substantiated, the board may
recommend an appropriate disciplinary action to the employer. If
the employer fails to take disciplinary action against the peace
officer before the 30th day after the date the board notifies the
employer of the board's determination, the board shall forward the
case to the attorney representing the state or to the appropriate
United States attorney.
SECTION 2. The initial members of a municipal civilian
complaint review board shall be appointed as provided by Section
143A.051, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, not later
than October 1, 2021.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by Chapter 143A, Local
Government Code, as added by this Act, applies only to misconduct
that occurs on or after October 1, 2021. Misconduct that occurs
before October 1, 2021, is covered by the law in effect when the
misconduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect for
that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.