| Old | New | Differences | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 87R2124 ADM-D | |
| 2 | 2 | By: Meza H.B. No. 562 | |
| 3 | 3 | ||
| 4 | 4 | ||
| 5 | 5 | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED | |
| 6 | 6 | AN ACT | |
| 7 | 7 | relating to law enforcement policies regarding de-escalation and | |
| 8 | 8 | proportionate response. | |
| 9 | 9 | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | |
| 10 | 10 | SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is | |
| 11 | 11 | amended by adding Article 2.33 to read as follows: | |
| 12 | 12 | Art. 2.33. LAW ENFORCEMENT POLICY ON DE-ESCALATION AND | |
| 13 | 13 | PROPORTIONATE RESPONSE. (a) In this article, "law enforcement | |
| 14 | 14 | agency" means an agency of the state or an agency of a political | |
| 15 | 15 | subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ peace | |
| 16 | 16 | officers. | |
| 17 | 17 | (b) Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a | |
| 18 | 18 | detailed written policy regarding the use of force by peace | |
| 19 | 19 | officers employed by the agency. The policy must: | |
| 20 | 20 | (1) emphasize the use of conflict de-escalation | |
| 21 | 21 | techniques; and | |
| 22 | 22 | (2) authorize force to be used by officers only after | |
| 23 | 23 | attempts to de-escalate a situation have failed. | |
| 24 | 24 | SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, each law | |
| 25 | 25 | enforcement agency in this state shall adopt the policy required by | |
| 26 | 26 | Article 2.33, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act. | |
| 27 | 27 | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |