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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and regulation of a law enforcement agency |
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or police department. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1701.163, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The entity may not begin operation of the law |
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enforcement agency or police department unless: |
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(1) the entity submits all of the information required |
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under Subsection (b) to the commission; and |
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(2) the commission issues the entity an agency number |
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for the law enforcement agency or police department. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.1631 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.1631. SUSPENSION OF OPERATIONS OF CERTAIN |
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AGENCIES OR DEPARTMENTS. The commission may suspend the operations |
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of a law enforcement agency or police department described by |
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Section 1701.163 if the entity creating the law enforcement agency |
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or police department: |
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(1) cannot demonstrate an ongoing need for the law |
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enforcement agency or police department in the community; |
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(2) does not maintain adequate funding for the law |
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enforcement agency or police department; |
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(3) does not maintain or provide adequate physical |
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resources for officers of the law enforcement agency or police |
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department; |
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(4) does not maintain or provide adequate physical |
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facilities for the law enforcement agency or police department, |
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including an adequate evidence room, dispatch area, and public |
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area; |
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(5) does not maintain or enforce adequate law |
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enforcement policies for the law enforcement agency or police |
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department, including policies on: |
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(A) use of force; |
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(B) vehicle pursuit; |
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(C) professional conduct of officers; |
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(D) domestic abuse protocols; |
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(E) response to missing persons; |
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(F) supervision of part-time officers; and |
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(G) impartial policing; |
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(6) does not have an effective administrative |
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structure for the law enforcement agency or police department; |
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(7) does not maintain adequate liability insurance for |
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the law enforcement agency or police department; or |
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(8) does not meet another standard or requirement the |
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commission implements by rule. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |