| 1 | 1 | | 88R13211 CJD-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Garcia H.B. No. 3704 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to notification requirements for deaths caused by peace |
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| 8 | 8 | | officers. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Article 2.1391 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Art. 2.1391. NOTICE REQUIRED FOR DEATH CAUSED BY OFFICER. |
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| 13 | 13 | | (a) As soon as practicable after a peace officer causes the death |
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| 14 | 14 | | of another while in the discharge of the officer's duties, the law |
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| 15 | 15 | | enforcement agency that employs the officer shall notify the |
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| 16 | 16 | | immediate family and household members of the deceased individual |
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| 17 | 17 | | of the death and provide a chaplain, victim services professional, |
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| 18 | 18 | | or peace officer employed by the agency to: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) console the immediate family or household members; |
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| 20 | 20 | | and |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) provide information regarding relevant resources |
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| 22 | 22 | | available in the community. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) An action taken by a law enforcement agency or a |
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| 24 | 24 | | chaplain, victim services professional, or peace officer in |
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| 25 | 25 | | accordance with this article may not be construed as an admission |
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| 26 | 26 | | of liability on behalf of the agency or the peace officer who caused |
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| 27 | 27 | | the death. |
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| 28 | 28 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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