87R7113 JCG-D
 
  By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1513
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to law enforcement policies prohibiting a peace officer
  from using less lethal projectiles for the purpose of controlling
  the activity or movement of a gathering of people.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
  amended by adding Article 2.33 to read as follows:
         Art. 2.33.  LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY PROHIBITING USE OF
  CERTAIN AMMUNITION FOR CROWD CONTROL. (a) In this article:
               (1)  "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.
               (2)  "Less lethal projectile" means ammunition that is
  discharged from a firearm or other device for the purpose of
  incapacitating or substantially diminishing the capacity of the
  target by inflicting blunt trauma and that is designed to reduce the
  risk of serious bodily injury or death compared to more commonly
  used ammunition such as bullets or other projectiles composed
  primarily or entirely of metal. The term includes ammunition
  commonly known as "rubber bullets," "wooden bullets," "sponge
  rounds," and "bean bag rounds."
         (b)  Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a
  policy on crowd control that prohibits a peace officer employed by
  the agency from using less lethal projectiles as a means to control
  the activity or movement of a gathering of people. 
         SECTION 2.  Not later than January 1, 2022, each law
  enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by
  Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.