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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to law enforcement policies prohibiting a peace officer |
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from using less lethal projectiles for the purpose of controlling |
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the activity or movement of a gathering of people. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 2.36 to read as follows: |
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Art. 2.36. LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY PROHIBITING USE OF |
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CERTAIN AMMUNITION FOR CROWD CONTROL. (a) In this article: |
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(1) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the |
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state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state |
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authorized by law to appoint or employ peace officers. |
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(2) "Less lethal projectile" means ammunition that is |
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discharged from a firearm or other device for the purpose of |
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incapacitating or substantially diminishing the capacity of the |
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target by inflicting blunt trauma and that is designed to reduce the |
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risk of serious bodily injury or death compared to more commonly |
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used ammunition such as bullets or other projectiles composed |
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primarily or entirely of metal. The term includes ammunition |
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commonly known as "rubber bullets," "wooden bullets," "sponge |
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rounds," and "bean bag rounds." |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a |
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policy on crowd control that prohibits a peace officer appointed or |
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employed by the agency from using less lethal projectiles as a means |
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to control the activity or movement of a gathering of people. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2024, each law |
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enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by |
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Article 2.36, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |