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AN ACT
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relating to the investigation of a firefighter in certain |
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municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 143.123(e), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) A person may not be assigned to conduct an investigation |
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if the person is the complainant, the ultimate decisionmaker |
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regarding disciplinary action, or a person who has any personal |
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involvement regarding the alleged misconduct. A fire fighter or |
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police officer who is the subject of an investigation has the right |
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to inquire and, on inquiry, to be informed of the identities of each |
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investigator participating in an interrogation of the fire fighter |
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or police officer. Not later than the 30th day after the date that a |
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complaint is received by an investigator, the investigator must |
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inform the fire fighter in writing of the nature of the |
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investigation and the name of each person who complained about the |
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fire fighter, if known, concerning the matters under investigation |
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unless: |
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(1) a criminal investigation has been initiated as a |
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result of the complaint; or |
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(2) the disclosure of information concerning the name |
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of the complainant or the matters under investigation would hinder |
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a criminal investigation. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a complaint received by |
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an investigator on or after the effective date of the Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1561 was passed by the House on May 3, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1561 was passed by the Senate on May |
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22, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |