Texas 2017 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HCR140 Introduced / Bill

Filed 05/11/2017

                    85R30168 TJB-D
 By: Hunter H.C.R. No. 140


 CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 WHEREAS, Residents of this state have made inquiries about
 the process, rules, handling, and processing of recordings and
 transcripts of emergency calls made to public safety agencies in
 this state; and
 WHEREAS, The principle of open and transparent government can
 coexist with respect for the privacy of families grieving from the
 loss of a loved one; and
 WHEREAS, Certain entities have released the recording of an
 emergency call that includes the voice of an individual who
 subsequently died as a result of the emergency for which the call
 was made; and
 WHEREAS, The family members of those individuals can be
 unnecessarily traumatized by hearing or learning of what are often
 the last words of the individual who made the emergency call; now,
 therefore, be it
 RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
 hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
 of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative
 committee to study the process, rules, handling, and processing of
 the disclosure of recordings and transcripts of emergency calls
 made by a subsequently deceased individual to a public safety
 agency or a public safety answering point, as those terms are
 defined by Section 771.001, Health and Safety Code; and, be it
 further
 RESOLVED, That the committee submit a full report, including
 findings and recommendations, to the 86th Texas Legislature when it
 convenes in January 2019.