|
Senate Bill 1445 |
Senate Author: Paxton et al. |
|
Effective: 9-1-23 |
House Sponsor: Goldman |
Senate Bill 1445 amends the Occupations Code to continue the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) until September 1, 2031. Among other provisions, including certain across‑the‑board sunset recommendations, the bill requires TCOLE to establish minimum standards for law enforcement agencies; adopt a model policy that must be used by such agencies for medical and psychological fit‑for‑duty exams; establish a database containing the licensing status of each officer, including records of any license action TCOLE has taken and records of any agency investigations into alleged misconduct, and a public database containing personal service reports of each licensed officer; designate a national law enforcement database that agencies must use for preemployment background checks; and submit information on revoked TCOLE licenses to a designated national database. The bill also provides for TCOLE's authority to establish advisory committees and to issue subpoenas for certain records.
Senate Bill 1445 sets out requirements for TCOLE with respect to officer misconduct, including those in requesting records of out‑of‑state license holders and in disqualifying certain officers whose license has been suspended or revoked by another state from TCOLE licensure, and requires TCOLE to adopt model policies to be used by law enforcement agencies in hiring and investigating alleged misconduct by license holders and regarding the maintenance of personnel files of license holders. Finally, the bill establishes TCOLE's duty to take disciplinary action against a law enforcement agency for certain violations and to issue an emergency license suspension on determining a license holder constitutes an imminent threat to public health, safety, or welfare.