|
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
relating to equipping certain K-9 law enforcement vehicles with |
|
heat alarm systems. |
|
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 may equip each vehicle used in |
|
a K-9 law enforcement program with a heat alarm system that is |
|
activated when the vehicle stops running or 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; |
|
(2) automatically lower the vehicle's rear windows; |
|
and |
|
(3) page the K-9 law enforcement officer. |
|
(c) This section does not apply to an open-air vehicle used |
|
in connection with a K-9 law enforcement program. |
|
SECTION 2. A vehicle used in a K-9 law enforcement program |
|
equipped with a heat alarm system on the effective date of this Act |
|
is not required to meet the standards under Section 821.005, Health |
|
and Safety Code, as added by this Act, before January 1, 2011. |
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |