88R10033 AJZ-D
By: AnchÃa H.B. No. 2564
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle accidents by
trained employees of a law enforcement agency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 550.041, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 550.041. INVESTIGATION BY PEACE OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) An employee of a law enforcement agency who has
successfully completed a training program on investigating motor
vehicle accidents approved by the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement may investigate a motor vehicle accident, without
regard to whether the accident occurred on property to which this
chapter applies, if:
(1) no offense was committed during the accident;
(2) no injury or death of a person occurred as a result
of the accident; and
(3) any property damage that resulted from the
accident was to an apparent extent of less than $5,000.
SECTION 3. The heading to Section 550.062, Transportation
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
EMPLOYEE'S ACCIDENT REPORT.
SECTION 4. Section 550.062, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b), (b-1), and
(c) to read as follows:
(a-1) An employee of a law enforcement agency who
investigates a motor vehicle accident in accordance with Section
550.041(c) shall make a written report summarizing the findings of
the investigation.
(b) The report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must be
filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th
day after the date of the accident.
(b-1) If the motor vehicle accident involved a combination
of vehicles operating under a permit issued under Section 623.402,
the report required by Subsection (a) or (a-1) must include the
weight and the number of axles of the vehicle combination.
(c) This section applies without regard to whether the
officer or law enforcement agency employee, as applicable,
investigates the accident at the location of the accident and
immediately after the accident or afterwards by interviewing those
involved in the accident or witnesses to the accident.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.