88R13028 MZM-D
 
  By: Birdwell S.B. No. 1896
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the investigation of the death of a person in county
  jail or in the custody of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 501.055(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not apply if the inmate:
               (1)  dies of natural causes [while attended by a
  physician or a registered nurse]; [or]
               (2)  is lawfully executed; or
               (3)  dies in a manner that does not indicate an offense
  has been committed.
         SECTION 2.  Section 511.021(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  On the death of a prisoner in a county jail, other than a
  death from natural causes or occurring in a manner that does not
  indicate an offense has been committed, the commission shall
  appoint a law enforcement agency, other than the local law
  enforcement agency that operates the county jail, to investigate
  the death as soon as possible.  Except as otherwise provided by
  Subsection (b), the appointed law enforcement agency shall conduct
  the investigation.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.