| 1 | 1 | | 81R21340 JSC-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Alonzo H.B. No. 243 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to equipping certain K-9 law enforcement vehicles with |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | heat alarm systems. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 821, Health and Safety |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended by adding Section 821.005 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 821.005. HEAT ALARM SYSTEM IN K-9 LAW ENFORCEMENT |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "law enforcement agency" means: |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | (1) the Department of Public Safety; |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (2) the sheriff's department of a county; or |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (3) the police department of a municipality. |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (b) A law enforcement agency may equip each vehicle used in |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | a K-9 law enforcement program with a heat alarm system that is |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | activated when the vehicle stops running or the temperature in the |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | vehicle's interior becomes dangerous to a police dog in the |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | vehicle. The system when activated must: |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (1) activate an audible alarm; |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2) automatically lower the vehicle's rear windows; |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (3) page the K-9 law enforcement officer. |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (c) This section does not apply to an open-air vehicle used |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | in connection with a K-9 law enforcement program. |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. A vehicle used in a K-9 law enforcement program |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | equipped with a heat alarm system on the effective date of this Act |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | is not required to meet the standards under Section 821.005, Health |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | and Safety Code, as added by this Act, before January 1, 2011. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
|---|