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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to peace officers and the investigation and prosecution of |
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criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Thurgood Marshall |
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Criminal Justice Reform Act. |
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SECTION 2. Title 6, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 135 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 135. PEACE OFFICER LIABILITY FOR DEPRIVATION OF CERTAIN |
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RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, OR IMMUNITIES |
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Sec. 135.0001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Peace officer" has the meaning assigned by |
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Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(2) "Public entity" means: |
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(A) this state; |
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(B) a political subdivision of this state, |
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including a municipality or county; and |
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(C) any other governmental agency whose |
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authority is derived from the laws or constitution of this state. |
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Sec. 135.0002. PEACE OFFICER LIABILITY FOR DEPRIVATION OF |
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RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, OR IMMUNITIES UNDER COLOR OF LAW. (a) A person |
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may bring an action for any appropriate relief, including legal or |
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equitable relief, against a peace officer who, under the color of |
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law, deprived the person of or caused the person to be deprived of a |
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right, privilege, or immunity secured by the Texas Constitution. |
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(b) A person must bring an action under this chapter not |
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later than two years after the day the cause of action accrues. |
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Sec. 135.0003. APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW; PROHIBITED |
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DEFENSES. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a statutory immunity |
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or limitation on liability, damages, or attorney's fees does not |
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apply to an action brought under this chapter. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, qualified immunity or a |
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defendant's good faith but erroneous belief in the lawfulness of |
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the defendant's conduct is not a defense to an action brought under |
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this chapter. |
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Sec. 135.0004. ATTORNEY'S FEES AND COSTS. (a) In an action |
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brought under this chapter, a court shall award reasonable |
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attorney's fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff. |
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(b) In an action brought under this chapter, if a judgment |
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is entered in favor of a defendant, the court may award reasonable |
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attorney's fees and costs to the defendant only for defending |
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claims the court finds frivolous. |
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Sec. 135.0005. INDEMNIFICATION REQUIRED; EXCEPTION. (a) |
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Notwithstanding any other law and except as provided by Subsection |
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(b), a public entity shall indemnify a peace officer employed by the |
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entity for liability incurred by and a judgment imposed against the |
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officer in an action brought under this chapter. |
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(b) A public entity is not required to indemnify a peace |
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officer employed by the entity under Subsection (a) if the officer |
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was convicted of a criminal violation for the conduct that is the |
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basis for the action brought under this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Article 20A.052(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The foreperson shall: |
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(1) preside over the grand jury's sessions; [and] |
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(2) conduct the grand jury's business and proceedings |
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in an orderly manner; and |
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(3) prevent a person present during a session of the |
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grand jury from displaying, through any visible means, support for |
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another person who would likely be involved in the prosecution of an |
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offense subject to indictment by the grand jury. |
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SECTION 4. Article 20A.202(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Grand jury proceedings conducted in the course of the |
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grand jury's official duties are secret. |
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SECTION 5. Article 20A.203(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A witness who reveals, before the end of the grand |
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jury's term, any matter about which the witness is examined or that |
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the witness observes during a grand jury proceeding, other than |
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when the witness is required to give evidence on that matter in due |
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course, may be punished by a fine not to exceed $500, as for |
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contempt of court, and by a term of confinement not to exceed six |
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months. |
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SECTION 6. Article 20A.205(b), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A petition for disclosure under Subsection (a) must be |
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filed in the district court in which the case is pending. The |
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defendant must also file a copy of the petition with the attorney |
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representing the state, the parties to the judicial proceeding, and |
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any other person the court requires. Each person who receives a |
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copy of the petition under this subsection is entitled to appear |
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before the court. [The court shall provide interested parties with |
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an opportunity to appear and present arguments for or against the |
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requested disclosure.] |
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SECTION 7. Section 41.309(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) To be eligible to serve as a counsellor, a person must[: |
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[(1)] be a competent attorney certified in criminal |
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law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization[; |
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[(2) have at least five years of experience as a lawyer |
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assisting prosecuting attorneys in prosecuting offenses or |
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delinquent conduct committed on state property used for the custody |
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of persons charged with or convicted of offenses or used for the |
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custody of children charged with or adjudicated as having engaged |
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in delinquent conduct or conduct indicating a need for supervision; |
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or |
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[(3) have served for at least five years as a |
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prosecuting attorney or as a judge of a district court, a court of |
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appeals, or the court of criminal appeals]. |
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SECTION 8. Subtitle A, Title 5, Local Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 142A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 142A. PROVISIONS GENERALLY APPLICABLE TO MUNICIPAL POLICE |
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OFFICERS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 142A.001. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies to |
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municipal police departments regardless of whether the department |
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has adopted the provisions of Chapter 143. |
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Sec. 142A.002. CHAPTER SUPERSEDES OTHER LAW OR AGREEMENT. |
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To the extent this chapter conflicts with another law, rule, |
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including a rule of a civil service commission, or a collective |
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bargaining, meet and confer, or other agreement, this chapter |
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controls. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. HIRING |
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Sec. 142A.051. EXAMINATION ON IMPLICIT BIAS IN POLICE |
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DEPARTMENT. (a) A municipal police department shall, before |
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hiring an applicant for a position with the department as a peace |
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officer, require the applicant to take and pass an examination on |
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implicit bias. |
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(b) The police department shall collaborate with an |
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accredited institution of higher education or other nonprofit |
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research institution in: |
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(1) creating or selecting the examination; |
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(2) setting the minimum passing score; and |
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(3) setting a score that exceeds the minimum passing |
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score but below which an applicant is required to receive |
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individualized counseling on implicit bias before being hired for a |
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peace officer position. |
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(c) A police department: |
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(1) may not hire as a peace officer an applicant who |
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does not meet or exceed the passing score set under Subsection |
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(b)(2); and |
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(2) may hire as a peace officer an applicant who |
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receives a score set under Subsection (b)(3) only after the |
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applicant receives individualized counseling on implicit bias. |
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Sec. 142A.052. HIGHER EDUCATION REQUIREMENT. To be |
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eligible for a position with a police department as a peace officer, |
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an applicant hired on or after September 1, 2021, must: |
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(1) for a home-rule municipality located wholly or |
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partly in a county with a population of 500,000 or more, hold at |
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least a baccalaureate degree or equivalent from an accredited |
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institution of higher education; or |
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(2) for a home-rule municipality not described by |
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Subdivision (1), hold at least an associate's degree or equivalent |
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from an accredited institution of higher education. |
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Sec. 142A.053. HIRING AFTER CERTAIN TERMINATION OR |
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RESIGNATION. A municipal police department may not hire as a peace |
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officer a person formerly employed as a peace officer who was |
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terminated or resigned in lieu of termination from that position |
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for the unjustified use of deadly force. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. LABOR AGREEMENTS |
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Sec. 142A.101. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN COLLECTIVE |
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BARGAINING AND MEET AND CONFER. A municipality and a police officer |
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association recognized as a bargaining agent may not adopt a |
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collective bargaining, meet and confer, or other similar agreement |
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unless the parties have solicited participation by local community |
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members, including allowing an organization of local community |
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members to review and comment on any proposed agreement. |
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SECTION 9. Section 1701.255(c), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A person may not enroll in a peace officer training |
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program under Section 1701.251(a) unless the person has received an |
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associate's degree or any higher academic degree from an accredited |
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institution of higher education in or out of this state[: |
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[(1) a high school diploma; |
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[(2) a high school equivalency certificate; or |
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[(3) an honorable discharge from the armed forces of |
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the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service]. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 9.51(a), (b), (c), and (d), Penal |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A peace officer, or a person acting in a peace officer's |
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presence and at the officer's [his] direction, is justified in |
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using nonlethal force against another when and to the degree [the |
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actor reasonably believes] the force is immediately necessary to |
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make or assist in making an arrest or search, or to prevent or |
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assist in preventing escape after arrest, if: |
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(1) the actor reasonably believes the arrest or search |
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is lawful or, if the arrest or search is made under a warrant, the |
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actor [he] reasonably believes the warrant is valid; [and] |
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(2) before using force, the actor: |
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(A) manifests the actor's [his] purpose to arrest |
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or search and identifies the actor [himself] as a peace officer or |
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as a person [one] acting at a peace officer's direction, unless the |
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actor [he] reasonably believes the actor's [his] purpose and |
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identity are already known by or cannot reasonably be made known to |
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the person for whom the arrest or search is authorized; |
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(B) attempts to de-escalate the situation; and |
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(C) issues a warning that force will be used; |
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(3) the force used is proportionate to the threat |
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posed and to the seriousness of the alleged offense; |
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(4) the actor immediately terminates the use of force |
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the moment the person against whom force is used becomes compliant |
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or is subdued; and |
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(5) the use of force does not present a serious risk of |
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injury to any person other than the actor or the person against whom |
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the force is used [to be arrested]. |
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(b) A person who is not [other than] a peace officer [(] or |
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[one] acting at a peace officer's [his] direction [)] is justified |
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in using nonlethal force against another when and to the degree [the |
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actor reasonably believes] the force is immediately necessary to |
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make or assist in making a lawful arrest, or to prevent or assist in |
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preventing escape after lawful arrest if: |
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(1)[,] before using force, the actor: |
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(A) manifests the actor's [his] purpose to arrest |
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and the reason for the arrest or reasonably believes the actor's |
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[his] purpose and the reason are already known by or cannot |
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reasonably be made known to the person for whom arrest is |
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authorized; |
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(B) attempts to de-escalate the situation; and |
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(C) issues a warning that force will be used; |
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(2) the force used is proportionate to the threat |
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posed and to the seriousness of the alleged offense; |
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(3) the actor immediately terminates the use of force |
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the moment the person against whom force is used becomes compliant |
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or is subdued; and |
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(4) the use of force does not present a serious risk of |
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injury to any person other than the actor or the person against whom |
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the force is used [to be arrested]. |
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(c) A peace officer is only justified in using deadly force |
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against another when and to the degree [the peace officer |
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reasonably believes] the deadly force is immediately necessary to |
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make an arrest, or to prevent escape after arrest, if the use of |
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force would have been justified under Subsection (a) and: |
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(1) [the actor reasonably believes the conduct for |
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which arrest is authorized included the use or attempted use of |
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deadly force; or |
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[(2) the actor reasonably believes there is a |
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substantial risk that] the person for whom arrest is authorized |
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poses an imminent threat of [to be arrested will cause] death or |
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serious bodily injury to the actor or another; |
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(2) the deadly force is used only against the person |
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for whom arrest is authorized; |
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(3) the actor immediately terminates the use of deadly |
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force the moment the imminent threat of death or serious bodily |
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injury is eliminated; and |
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(4) no lesser degree of force could have eliminated |
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the imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury [if the arrest |
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is delayed]. |
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(d) A person who is not [other than] a peace officer but is |
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acting in a peace officer's presence and at the officer's [his] |
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direction is justified in using deadly force against another when |
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and to the degree [the person reasonably believes] the deadly force |
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is immediately necessary to make a lawful arrest, or to prevent |
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escape after a lawful arrest, if the use of force would have been |
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justified under Subsection (b) and: |
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(1) [the actor reasonably believes the felony or |
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offense against the public peace for which arrest is authorized |
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included the use or attempted use of deadly force; or |
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[(2) the actor reasonably believes there is a |
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substantial risk that] the person for whom arrest is authorized |
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poses an imminent threat of [to be arrested will cause] death or |
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serious bodily injury to another; |
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(2) the deadly force is used only against the person |
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for whom arrest is authorized; |
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(3) the actor immediately terminates the use of deadly |
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force the moment the imminent threat of death or serious bodily |
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injury is eliminated; and |
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(4) no lesser degree of force could have eliminated |
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the imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury [if the arrest |
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is delayed]. |
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SECTION 11. Section 9.51(e), Penal Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 12. Chapter 135, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, |
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as added by this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 13. Section 41.309, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to a counsellor elected by the executive |
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board of the board of directors of the Special Prosecution Unit |
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under that section on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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counsellor elected before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the counsellor was |
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elected, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 14. Section 142A.051, Local Government Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to an applicant who is hired by a |
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municipal police department as a peace officer on or after January |
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1, 2021. |
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SECTION 15. Section 1701.255, Occupations Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to a person who submits an application for |
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a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. A person who submits an |
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application for a peace officer license under Chapter 1701, |
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Occupations Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 16. Section 9.51, Penal Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. An offense committed before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was |
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committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense was committed |
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before the effective date of this Act if any element of the offense |
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occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 17. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |