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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on unreported gunshots detected using gunshot |
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detection technology. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY ON UNREPORTED GUNSHOTS. (a) In this Act, |
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"department" means the Department of Public Safety of the State of |
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Texas. |
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(b) From money appropriated or otherwise available for the |
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purpose, the department shall contract with three eligible |
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municipal police departments to conduct a study on unreported |
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gunshots detected using gunshot detection technology. The study |
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must include the following information: |
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(1) the number of unreported gunshots detected using |
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gunshot detection technology that occur within the boundaries of |
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the municipality; and |
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(2) for each gunshot described by Subdivision (1) of |
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this subsection: |
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(A) the results of any police department |
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investigation related to the gunshot, including information |
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regarding whether the gunshot was intentional; and |
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(B) the number and type of criminal charges filed |
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as a result of the gunshot. |
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(c) To be eligible to receive a contract under Subsection |
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(b) of this section, a municipal police department must: |
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(1) be located in a municipality with a population of |
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more than 500,000; and |
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(2) submit an application to the department that |
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includes: |
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(A) a list of geographic areas within the |
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boundaries of the municipality that have been identified as having |
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high rates of unreported gunshots; |
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(B) an explanation of the police department's |
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previous experience with gunshot detection technologies; and |
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(C) the proposed members of a five-person |
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committee that the police department will establish to assist with |
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the study if the police department receives the contract, |
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including: |
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(i) one representative from the municipal |
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police department; |
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(ii) one representative from the sheriff's |
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department in the county in which the municipal police department |
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is located; |
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(iii) one person who serves as a school |
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district peace officer, a school resource officer, or security |
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personnel as described by Section 37.081, Education Code, and who |
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provides security at a school campus located in the municipality |
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described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection; |
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(iv) one representative of a neighborhood |
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association located in the municipality described by Subdivision |
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(1) of this subsection; and |
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(v) one member who is appointed by a member |
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of the house of representatives whose district contains any part of |
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the municipality described by Subdivision (1) of this subsection. |
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(d) Each municipal police department that the department |
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contracts with under Subsection (b) of this section shall prepare |
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and submit a report of its findings to the department not later than |
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September 1, 2026. |
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(e) Not later than December 31, 2026, the department shall |
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prepare and submit to the legislature a written report summarizing |
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the results of the study, disaggregated by municipality. |
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(f) This Act expires September 1, 2027. |
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SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2025. |