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79R1174 JTS-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.B. No. 1551



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to equipping each K-9 law enforcement vehicle with a heat 
alarm system.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 821, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 821.005 to read as follows:
	Sec. 821.005.  HEAT ALARM SYSTEM IN K-9 LAW ENFORCEMENT 
VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "law enforcement agency" means:
		(1)  the Department of Public Safety;                                  
		(2)  the sheriff's department of a county; or                          
		(3)  the police department of a municipality.                          
	(b)  A law enforcement agency shall equip each vehicle used 
in a K-9 law enforcement program with a heat alarm system that is 
activated when the temperature in the vehicle's interior becomes 
dangerous to a police dog in the vehicle. The system when activated 
must:
		(1)  activate an audible alarm; and                                    
		(2)  automatically start the vehicle and the vehicle's 
air conditioning system.
	SECTION 2.  A law enforcement agency required to equip a 
vehicle with a heat alarm system as required by Section 821.005, 
Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, is not required to 
comply with that section before January 1, 2006.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.