Texas 2021 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB70 Introduced / Bill

Filed 11/09/2020

                    87R798 ADM-D
 By: Miles S.B. No. 70


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to use of force reporting by peace officers.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
 amended by adding Article 2.33 to read as follows:
 Art. 2.33.  USE OF FORCE REPORTING. (a) In this article,
 "law enforcement agency" means an agency of the state or an agency
 of a political subdivision of the state authorized by law to employ
 peace officers.
 (b)  Each law enforcement agency shall require each peace
 officer employed by the agency to submit a detailed report to the
 agency regarding each incident in which the officer uses force, or
 witnesses another officer use force, against a person suspected of
 committing an offense.
 (c)  The report must include:
 (1)  a description of the force used by the peace
 officer;
 (2)  an explanation as to why the degree of force used
 was necessary; and
 (3)  if applicable, a description of any attempt that
 was made by the peace officer to de-escalate the situation before
 the force was used.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.