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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to peace officer duties in investigating or responding to |
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certain family violence incidents. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 5, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 5.055 to read as follows: |
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Art. 5.055. ADDITIONAL DUTIES AND RECORDS RELATED TO |
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STRANGULATION INCIDENTS. (a) If a peace officer investigates a |
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family violence allegation or responds to a disturbance call that |
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may involve family violence and the peace officer has reason to |
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believe that conduct described by Section 22.01(b)(2)(B), Penal |
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Code, occurred, the peace officer shall, in addition to the peace |
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officer's duties under Articles 5.04 and 5.05: |
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(1) evaluate the scene and render aid to the victim; |
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(2) summon emergency medical services, if |
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appropriate, and note the identities of the emergency medical |
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services personnel in the report of the incident; |
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(3) provide the victim referral information to the |
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appropriate support agency for the victim and document the referral |
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in the report of the incident; |
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(4) thoroughly document the suspect's behavior, |
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actions, and comments in the report of the incident; and |
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(5) use any checklist or other evaluation tool adopted |
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by the peace officer's employing law enforcement agency. |
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(b) A law enforcement agency may adopt a checklist or other |
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evaluation tool to assist peace officers in assessing the |
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circumstances under which conduct described by Section |
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22.01(b)(2)(B), Penal Code, may have occurred. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |