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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to law enforcement policies regarding the use of force by |
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peace officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Article 2.33 to read as follows: |
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Art. 2.33. LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ON USE OF FORCE BY PEACE |
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OFFICERS. (a) In this article, "law enforcement agency" means an |
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agency of the state or an agency of a political subdivision of the |
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state authorized by law to employ peace officers. |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency shall adopt a detailed |
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written policy regarding the use of force by peace officers. The |
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policy must provide peace officers employed by the agency with |
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explicit guidelines for the use of force that ensure that force will |
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only be used against a person in a manner proportionate to the |
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threat posed by the person. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, each law |
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enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by |
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Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |