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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the duties of peace officers investigating a family |
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violence allegation or responding to a disturbance call that may |
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involve family violence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 5.04, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) A peace officer who investigates a family violence |
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allegation or responds to a disturbance call that may involve |
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family violence shall, to the extent practicable under the |
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circumstances, physically separate the individuals at the scene and |
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conduct an interview of the potential victim in a manner that |
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prevents the suspect from intimidating the victim while the victim |
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is providing statements and other evidence to the investigating |
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peace officer, including, as practicable, by: |
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(1) preventing the suspect from being able to make eye |
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contact with the victim or make any other nonverbal communication |
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to the victim; |
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(2) placing the suspect and victim into separate |
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rooms, if both are detained indoors; and |
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(3) preventing the suspect from making verbal |
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communications to the victim by: |
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(A) placing the suspect at a distance from the |
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victim at which speech is not likely to be overheard or |
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intelligible; or |
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(B) using physical barriers. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |