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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle accidents by |
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trained employees of a law enforcement agency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 550.041, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 550.041. INVESTIGATION BY PEACE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF |
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LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY. |
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SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) An employee of a law enforcement agency who has |
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successfully completed a training program on investigating motor |
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vehicle accidents approved by the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement may investigate a motor vehicle accident, without |
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regard to whether the accident occurred on property to which this |
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chapter applies, if: |
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(1) no offense was committed during the accident; |
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(2) no injury or death of a person occurred as a result |
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of the accident; and |
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(3) any property damage that resulted from the |
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accident was to an apparent extent of less than $5,000. |
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SECTION 3. The heading to Section 550.062, Transportation |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY |
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EMPLOYEE'S ACCIDENT REPORT. |
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SECTION 4. Section 550.062, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b), (b-1), and |
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(c) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) An employee of a law enforcement agency who |
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investigates a motor vehicle accident in accordance with Section |
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550.041(c) shall make a written report summarizing the findings of |
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the investigation. |
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(b) The report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must be |
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filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th |
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day after the date of the accident. |
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(b-1) If the motor vehicle accident involved a combination |
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of vehicles operating under a permit issued under Section 623.402, |
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the report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must include the |
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weight and the number of axles of the vehicle combination. |
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(c) This section applies without regard to whether the |
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officer or law enforcement agency employee, as applicable, |
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investigates the accident at the location of the accident and |
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immediately after the accident or afterwards by interviewing those |
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involved in the accident or witnesses to the accident. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |