89R23905 AJZ-D
By: LaHood H.B. No. 4176
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 4176:
By: Hefner C.S.H.B. No. 4176
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions
by former peace officers.
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 DESIGNEE OF
LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) A former peace officer who is designated by a law
enforcement agency and who has successfully completed a training
program on investigating motor vehicle collisions approved by the
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement may investigate a motor vehicle
collision, without regard to whether the collision occurred on
property to which this chapter applies, if:
(1) no offense was committed during the collision; and
(2) no injury or death of a person occurred as a result
of the collision.
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
DESIGNEE'S COLLISION 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) A former peace officer who is designated by a law
enforcement agency to investigate a motor vehicle collision 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 collision.
(b-1) If the motor vehicle collision 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 former peace officer designated by a law enforcement
agency, as applicable, investigates the collision at the location
of the collision and immediately after the collision or afterwards
by interviewing those involved in the collision or witnesses to the
collision.
SECTION 5. Section 550.068, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 550.068. CHANGING COLLISION REPORT. (a) Except as
provided by Subsection (b), a change in or a modification of a
written report of a motor vehicle collision prepared by a peace
officer or former peace officer designated by a law enforcement
agency that alters a material fact in the report may be made only by
the peace officer or former peace officer, as applicable, who
prepared the report.
(b) A change in or a modification of the written report of
the collision may be made by a person other than the peace officer
or former peace officer, as applicable, who prepared the report if:
(1) the change is made by a written supplement to the
report; and
(2) the written supplement clearly indicates the name
of the person who originated the change.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.