Texas Senate Bill SB1120

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of Senate Committee: 4/20/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/5/09
• Out of House Committee: 5/21/09

Caption

Relating to reports on racial profiling in connection with motor vehicle stops; providing a penalty.

Impact

The implementation of SB1120 is expected to have significant implications on how law enforcement agencies operate in Texas. By necessitating the collection and analysis of data involving race and ethnicity, the bill aims to expose potential patterns of racial profiling. Furthermore, it enforces stricter oversight by requiring annual reports to be submitted to the relevant governing bodies, thereby increasing accountability among law enforcement officials and potentially leading to behavioral changes within agencies.

Summary

SB1120 seeks to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure with specific provisions addressing racial profiling during motor vehicle stops. The bill mandates that law enforcement agencies establish a comprehensive written policy regarding racial profiling, which includes clearly defined prohibitions against profiling and an official complaint process for citizens. Each agency must also collect and report data related to traffic stops, including the demographics of individuals stopped and the nature of the stop, which aims to foster transparency and accountability within local police departments.

Contention

Despite the bill's intentions, discussions surrounding SB1120 might bring to light areas of contention. Critics may argue that the data collection requirements could place additional administrative burdens on law enforcement agencies, diverting resources away from core policing functions. Moreover, there may be concerns regarding the accuracy and privacy of the data collected, and the potential misuse of such information could provoke mistrust among communities. Proponents will likely contend that the benefits of heightened accountability and transparency far outweigh these concerns.