88R30938 MCF-F
 
  By: Springer S.B. No. 2593
 
  (Moody)
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 2593:  No.
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a defense to prosecution for certain assaultive
  offenses involving the use or exhibition of a less-lethal
  projectile device by a peace officer.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 22, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Section 22.065 to read as follows:
         Sec. 22.065.  DEFENSE TO CERTAIN ASSAULTIVE OFFENSES
  INVOLVING LESS-LETHAL PROJECTILE DEVICE. (a) In this section,
  "less-lethal projectile device" means any weapon, device, or
  munition that deploys a projectile that is designed or intended to
  temporarily incapacitate the target while minimizing the risk of
  serious bodily injury or death.
         (b)  It is a defense to prosecution of an offense under
  Section 22.01, 22.02, or 22.05 that:
               (1)  the conduct constituting the threat or bodily
  injury resulted from the use or exhibition of a less-lethal
  projectile device;
               (2)  the actor reasonably believed the use or
  exhibition of the device was immediately necessary to accomplish
  the actor's official duties as a peace officer;
               (3)  the actor did not intentionally, knowingly, or
  recklessly cause serious bodily injury or death when using or
  exhibiting the device; and
               (4)  the actor used or exhibited the device in
  substantial compliance with:
                     (A)  the actor's training;
                     (B)  the policies and procedures of the law
  enforcement agency employing the actor; and
                     (C)  the manufacturer's instructions for the
  device.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.