By Carona S.B. No. 651
75R3506 JRD-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to complaints against peace officers and certain
1-3 firefighters.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 614.021, Government Code, is amended to
1-6 read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 614.021. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER; DEFINITION. (a)
1-8 This subchapter applies only to a complaint against:
1-9 (1) a law enforcement officer of the State of Texas,
1-10 including an officer of the Department of Public Safety or of the
1-11 Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;
1-12 (2) a fire fighter who is not covered by a civil
1-13 service statute; or
1-14 (3) a police officer [who is not covered by a civil
1-15 service statute].
1-16 (b) In this subchapter, "police officer" means a person who
1-17 is a peace officer under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure,
1-18 or other law, and who is employed by a political subdivision of the
1-19 state.
1-20 SECTION 2. Section 614.022, Government Code, is amended to
1-21 read as follows:
1-22 Sec. 614.022. COMPLAINT TO BE IN WRITING, UNDER OATH, AND
1-23 SIGNED BY COMPLAINANT. To be considered by the head of a state
1-24 agency or by the head of a fire or police department, the complaint
2-1 must be:
2-2 (1) made under oath;
2-3 (2) made in writing; and
2-4 (3) [(2)] signed by the person making the complaint.
2-5 SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
2-6 a complaint made against a peace officer or firefighter on or after
2-7 the effective date of this Act.
2-8 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-14 passage, and it is so enacted.