By: Crockett H.B. No. 203

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a limitation on the authority to arrest a person for certain misdemeanors.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2.1308 to read as follows:

Art. 2.1308. CITE AND RELEASE POLICY. (a) In this article, "law enforcement agency" means an agency of the state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ peace officers.

(b) Each law enforcement agency shall adopt a written policy regarding the issuance of citations for misdemeanor offenses, other than violent misdemeanors as defined by Article 14.01. The policy must provide a procedure for a peace officer, on a person's presentation of appropriate identification, to verify the person's identity and issue a citation to the person. The policy must comply with Articles 14.01, 14.03, and 14.06 of this code and Sections 543.001 and 543.004, Transportation Code.

SECTION 2. Article 14.01, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:

(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or (b), a peace officer or any other person may not, without a warrant, arrest an offender who commits only one or more misdemeanor offenses, other than a violent misdemeanor or an offense under Section 49.02, Penal Code, unless the officer or person has probable cause to believe that:

(1) the failure to arrest the offender creates a clear and immediate danger to the offender or the public; or

(2) the failure to arrest the offender will allow a continued breach of the public peace.

(d) For purposes of this section, "violent misdemeanor" means an offense under the laws of this state that is punishable as a misdemeanor and that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of force against any person.

SECTION 3. Article 14.03, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

(h) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), (d), or (g), a peace officer may not, without a warrant, arrest a person who commits only one or more misdemeanor offenses, other than a violent misdemeanor as defined by Article 14.01 or an offense under Section 49.02, Penal Code, unless the officer has probable cause as described by Article 14.01(c).

SECTION 4. Article 14.06, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b) A peace officer who is charging a person, including a child, with committing an offense that is a [Class C] misdemeanor, other than a violent misdemeanor as defined by Article 14.01 or an offense under Section 49.02, Penal Code, shall [may], instead of taking the person before a magistrate, issue a citation to the person that contains:

(1) written notice of the time and place the person must appear before a magistrate;

(2) the name and address of the person charged;

(3) the offense charged;

(4) information regarding the alternatives to the full payment of any fine or costs assessed against the person, if the person is convicted of the offense and is unable to pay that amount; and

(5) the following admonishment, in boldfaced or underlined type or in capital letters:

"If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving violence where you are or were a spouse, intimate partner, parent, or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another, similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or ammunition, pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(9) or Section 46.04(b), Texas Penal Code. If you have any questions whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or purchase a firearm, you should consult an attorney."

(b-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a peace officer who is charging a person, including a child, with committing an offense that is a violent misdemeanor as defined by Article 14.01 and that is punishable by fine only may, instead of taking the person before a magistrate, issue to the person a citation that contains all of the information required for a citation issued under Subsection (b).

SECTION 5. Section 543.001, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 543.001. ARREST WITHOUT WARRANT AUTHORIZED. Any peace officer may arrest without warrant a person found committing a violation of this subtitle, except that the officer may not arrest a person found committing only one or more misdemeanors, other than a violent misdemeanor as defined by Article 14.01(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, unless the officer has probable cause as described by Article 14.01(c) of that code.

SECTION 6. Section 543.004(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) Unless the officer is authorized to arrest the person under Section 543.001, an [An] officer shall issue a written notice to appear if:

(1) the offense charged is a misdemeanor under this subtitle[:

[(A) speeding;

[(B) the use of a wireless communication device under Section 545.4251; or

[(C) a violation of the open container law, Section 49.031, Penal Code]; and

(2) the person makes a written promise to appear in court as provided by Section 543.005.

SECTION 7. Articles 14.06(c) and (d), Code of Criminal Procedure, are repealed.

SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 9. Not later than January 1, 2022, each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by Article 2.1308(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act.

SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.