Texas Senate Bill SB664

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to procedures for peace officers and emergency medical services personnel who respond to calls involving an alleged or suspected act of strangulation.

Impact

The bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Occupations Code to add new requirements for law enforcement responses to strangulation cases. This includes a requirement for officers to document key details surrounding the incident in their reports, including witness accounts and referrals provided to the victim. The anticipated effect is a more standardized response across law enforcement agencies, promoting better quality care for victims and documentation that could support legal proceedings.

Summary

SB664 focuses on establishing specific procedures for peace officers and emergency medical services personnel when responding to incidents involving allegations or suspicions of strangulation. The bill aims to ensure that victims receive appropriate medical evaluation and support by mandating that law enforcement personnel seek assistance from emergency medical services during such incidents. This establishes a formal protocol to improve the outcomes for victims of strangulation, which may often be significantly underreported or inadequately addressed.

Contention

The bill may face some contention related to the effectiveness of the proposed procedures and the capacity of emergency medical services to respond adequately to all such calls. There could be concerns regarding the additional workload placed upon both law enforcement and emergency services, especially in jurisdictions that already experience resource constraints. Additionally, potential critics may question whether the training and checklist provided to officers will sufficiently equip them to handle such sensitive situations effectively.