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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to interactions between law enforcement and individuals |
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stopped on suspicion of the commission of criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 2.13, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) The officer may not: |
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(1) conduct a search based solely on a person's consent |
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to the search; or |
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(2) make a stop for an alleged violation of a traffic |
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law or ordinance as a pretext for investigating a violation of |
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another penal law. |
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SECTION 2. Article 2.132, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by amending Subsections (b), (c), and (e) and adding |
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Subsections (h) and (i) to read as follows: |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency in this state shall adopt a |
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detailed written policy on racial profiling. The policy must: |
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(1) clearly define acts constituting racial |
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profiling; |
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(2) strictly prohibit peace officers employed by the |
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agency from engaging in racial profiling; |
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(3) implement a process by which an individual may |
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file a complaint with the agency if the individual believes that a |
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peace officer employed by the agency has engaged in racial |
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profiling with respect to the individual; |
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(4) provide public education relating to the agency's |
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complaint process, including providing the information regarding |
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the complaint process on each ticket, citation, or warning issued |
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by a peace officer; |
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(5) require appropriate corrective action to be taken |
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against a peace officer employed by the agency who, after an |
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investigation, is shown to have engaged in racial profiling in |
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violation of the agency's policy adopted under this article; |
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(6) require collection of information relating to all |
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motor vehicle stops [in which a citation is issued and to arrests
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made as a result of those stops], including information relating |
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to: |
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(A) the race or ethnicity of the individual |
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detained; |
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(B) whether a search was conducted [and, if so,
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whether the individual detained consented to the search]; and |
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(C) whether the peace officer knew the race or |
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ethnicity of the individual detained before detaining that |
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individual; [and] |
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(D) whether the peace officer used physical force |
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against anyone during the stop; and |
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(7) require the chief administrator of the agency, |
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regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
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appointed, to submit an annual report of the information collected |
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under Subdivision (6) to: |
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(A) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; and |
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(B) the governing body of each county or |
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municipality served by the agency, if the agency is an agency of a |
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county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state. |
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(c) The data collected as a result of the reporting |
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requirements of this article shall not constitute prima facie |
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evidence of racial profiling but is admissible in a court of law as |
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evidence of racial profiling. |
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(e) A report required under Subsection (b)(7) may not |
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include identifying information about a peace officer who makes a |
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motor vehicle stop or about an individual who is stopped or arrested |
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by a peace officer. This subsection does not affect the collection |
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of information as required by a policy under Subsection (b)(6). |
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(h) A law enforcement agency shall review the data collected |
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under Subsection (b)(6) to determine whether the number of vehicles |
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driven by a member of a particular race or ethnicity stopped by any |
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peace officer employed by the agency is disproportionate to the |
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population of that race or ethnicity in the county or municipality |
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served by the agency. |
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(i) If a law enforcement agency determines that the number |
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of vehicles driven by a member of a particular race or ethnicity |
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stopped by a peace officer is disproportionate, as described by |
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Subsection (h), the agency shall conduct an investigation of the |
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officer to determine whether the officer routinely stops vehicles |
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the drivers of which are members of a particular racial or ethnic |
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group for alleged violations of traffic laws or ordinances as a |
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pretext for investigating violations of other penal laws. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Articles 2.1321 and 2.1322 to read as follows: |
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Art. 2.1321. RACIAL PROFILING INVESTIGATIONS. (a) The |
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chief administrator of a law enforcement agency, regardless of |
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whether the administrator is elected, employed, or appointed, shall |
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annually review the data collected by the agency on racial |
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profiling to determine if: |
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(1) racial profiling is potentially occurring on an |
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agency-wide level; or |
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(2) an individual peace officer may be engaging in |
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racial profiling. |
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(b) On a finding by the chief administrator of potential |
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racial profiling on an agency-wide basis or by an individual peace |
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officer, the agency shall initiate an investigation into the |
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potential racial profiling. |
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(c) The chief administrator of each law enforcement agency |
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shall annually certify to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement |
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that the chief administrator conducted the review required by |
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Subsection (a). |
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(d) On a finding by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement |
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that the chief administrator of a law enforcement agency |
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intentionally failed to conduct a review required by Subsection |
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(a), the commission shall begin disciplinary procedures against the |
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chief administrator. |
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Art. 2.1322. REQUIRED RACIAL PROFILING COUNSELING AND |
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TRAINING FOR CERTAIN PEACE OFFICERS. (a) If an investigation |
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initiated under Article 2.132 or 2.1321 results in a finding of |
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racial profiling, the law enforcement agency shall provide |
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appropriate counseling and training to any peace officer found to |
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have engaged in racial profiling. |
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(b) The counseling and training under Subsection (a) must: |
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(1) emphasize understanding and respect for racial and |
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cultural differences; |
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(2) address racial and cultural biases; and |
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(3) include effective, noncombative methods of |
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carrying out law enforcement duties in a racially and culturally |
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diverse environment. |
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(c) If, after a peace officer completes the counseling and |
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training under Subsection (a), the officer is again found to have |
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engaged in racial profiling, the law enforcement agency shall: |
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(1) suspend the officer for not less than six months; |
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and |
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(2) require the officer to repeat the counseling and |
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training under Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 4. Article 2.133, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A peace officer who stops a motor vehicle for an alleged |
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violation of a law or ordinance shall report to the law enforcement |
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agency that employs the officer information relating to the stop, |
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including: |
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(1) a physical description of any person operating the |
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motor vehicle who is detained as a result of the stop, including: |
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(A) the person's gender; and |
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(B) the person's race or ethnicity, as stated by |
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the person or, if the person does not state the person's race or |
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ethnicity, as determined by the officer to the best of the officer's |
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ability; |
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(2) the initial reason for the stop; |
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(3) whether the officer conducted a search as a result |
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of the stop [and, if so, whether the person detained consented to
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the search]; |
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(4) whether any contraband or other evidence was |
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discovered in the course of the search and a description of the |
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contraband or evidence; |
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(5) the reason for the search, including whether: |
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(A) any contraband or other evidence was in plain |
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view; |
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(B) any probable cause or reasonable suspicion |
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existed to perform the search; or |
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(C) the search was performed as a result of the |
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towing of the motor vehicle or the arrest of any person in the motor |
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vehicle; |
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(6) whether the officer made an arrest as a result of |
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the stop or the search, including a statement of whether the arrest |
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was based on a violation of the Penal Code, a violation of a traffic |
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law or ordinance, or an outstanding warrant and a statement of the |
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offense charged; |
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(7) the street address or approximate location of the |
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stop; [and] |
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(8) whether the officer issued a verbal or written |
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warning or a citation as a result of the stop; and |
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(9) whether the officer used physical force in |
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conjunction with the arrest. |
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(c) The chief administrator of a law enforcement agency, |
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regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
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appointed, shall make periodic random and unannounced reviews of |
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motor vehicle stops by peace officers employed by the agency to |
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ensure that the race or ethnicity of the person operating the motor |
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vehicle is being properly identified in the report under Subsection |
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(b). |
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SECTION 5. Articles 2.134(c), (d), and (f), Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, are amended to read as follows: |
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(c) A report required under Subsection (b) must be submitted |
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by the chief administrator of the law enforcement agency, |
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regardless of whether the administrator is elected, employed, or |
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appointed, and must include: |
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(1) a comparative analysis of the information compiled |
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under Article 2.133 to: |
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(A) evaluate and compare the number of motor |
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vehicle stops, within the applicable jurisdiction, of persons who |
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are recognized as racial or ethnic minorities and persons who are |
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not recognized as racial or ethnic minorities; [and] |
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(B) examine the disposition of motor vehicle |
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stops made by officers employed by the agency, categorized |
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according to the race or ethnicity of the affected persons, as |
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appropriate, including any searches resulting from stops within the |
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applicable jurisdiction; and |
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(C) evaluate and compare the number of searches |
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resulting from motor vehicle stops within the applicable |
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jurisdiction and whether contraband or other evidence was |
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discovered in the course of those searches; |
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(2) information relating to each complaint filed with |
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the agency alleging that a peace officer employed by the agency has |
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engaged in racial profiling; and |
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(3) information relating the number of investigations |
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initiated under Article 2.1321, and the outcomes of the |
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investigations. |
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(d) A report required under Subsection (b) may not include |
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identifying information about a peace officer who makes a motor |
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vehicle stop or about an individual who is stopped or arrested by a |
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peace officer. This subsection does not affect the reporting of |
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information required under Article 2.133(b)(1). |
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(f) The data collected as a result of the reporting |
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requirements of this article shall not constitute prima facie |
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evidence of racial profiling but is admissible in a court of law as |
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evidence of racial profiling. |
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SECTION 6. Article 2.1385(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) If the chief administrator of a local law enforcement |
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agency intentionally fails to submit the incident-based data as |
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required by Article 2.134, the agency is liable to the state for a |
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civil penalty in the amount of $10,000 [$1,000] for each violation. |
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The attorney general may sue to collect a civil penalty under this |
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subsection. |
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SECTION 7. Effective September 1, 2018, Chapter 2, Code of |
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Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2.1386 to read as |
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follows: |
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Art. 2.1386. MOTOR VEHICLE STOP INVESTIGATIONS. (a) In |
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this article, "law enforcement agency" and "motor vehicle stop" |
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have the meanings assigned by Article 2.132(a). |
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(b) Each law enforcement agency shall adopt and implement a |
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detailed written policy regarding the administration of a motor |
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vehicle stop investigation in accordance with this article, |
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including the administrative penalties for violations of the |
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policy. A law enforcement agency may adopt the model policy |
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promulgated by the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management |
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Institute of Texas or the agency's own policy. |
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(c) A peace officer may not: |
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(1) conduct a roadside investigation during a motor |
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vehicle stop for an offense other than the traffic violation |
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without suspicion based on a preponderance of the evidence that the |
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driver has committed the other offense; |
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(2) continue a roadside investigation during a motor |
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vehicle stop into an offense other than the traffic violation after |
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the driver has refused to consent to be searched unless the peace |
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officer has additional suspicion based on a preponderance of the |
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evidence that the driver has committed the other offense; or |
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(3) arrest a driver during a motor vehicle stop for a |
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traffic violation to conduct a search incident to arrest unless the |
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officer has probable cause to believe that the driver has committed |
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an offense more serious than a Class C misdemeanor. |
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(d) A peace officer who violates Subsection (c) shall be |
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subject to an administrative penalty of not less than a one-day |
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suspension. |
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SECTION 8. Article 3.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Art. 3.05. RACIAL PROFILING. (a) In this code, "racial |
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profiling" means a law enforcement-initiated action based on an |
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individual's race, ethnicity, or national origin rather than on the |
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individual's behavior or on information identifying the individual |
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as having engaged in criminal activity. |
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(b) Racial profiling may be identified through the |
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examination of sufficient and evidence-based data analysis. |
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SECTION 9. Article 14.06, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) A peace officer who is charging a person, including a |
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child, with committing an offense that is a [Class C] misdemeanor |
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punishable by a fine only, other than an offense under Section |
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49.02, Penal Code, or an offense under Chapter 106, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code, shall [may], instead of taking the person before a |
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magistrate, issue a citation to the person that contains written |
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notice of the time and place the person must appear before a |
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magistrate, the name and address of the person charged, the offense |
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charged, and the following admonishment, in boldfaced or underlined |
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type or in capital letters: |
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"If you are convicted of a misdemeanor offense involving |
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violence where you are or were a spouse, intimate partner, parent, |
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or guardian of the victim or are or were involved in another, |
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similar relationship with the victim, it may be unlawful for you to |
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possess or purchase a firearm, including a handgun or long gun, or |
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ammunition, pursuant to federal law under 18 U.S.C. Section |
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922(g)(9) or Section 46.04(b), Texas Penal Code. If you have any |
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questions whether these laws make it illegal for you to possess or |
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purchase a firearm, you should consult an attorney." |
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(b-1) A peace officer who is charging a person, including a |
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child, with committing an offense that is a misdemeanor punishable |
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by a fine only under Chapter 106, Alcoholic Beverage Code, may, |
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instead of taking the person before a magistrate, issue to the |
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person a citation that contains written notice of the time and place |
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the person must appear before a magistrate, the name and address of |
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the person charged, and the offense charged. |
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SECTION 10. Section 543.004(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An officer shall issue a written notice to appear if: |
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(1) the offense charged is [speeding or] a misdemeanor |
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under this subtitle that is punishable by a fine only [violation of
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the open container law, Section 49.03, Penal Code]; and |
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(2) the person makes a written promise to appear in |
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court as provided by Section 543.005. |
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SECTION 11. Effective January 1, 2018, Subchapter A, |
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Chapter 543, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section |
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543.0045 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 543.0045. NOTIFICATION REQUIRED DURING TRAFFIC STOP. |
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(a) An officer who stops a motor vehicle as a result of a person's |
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alleged commission of a misdemeanor under this subtitle that is |
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punishable by a fine only shall promptly notify the person that: |
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(1) the alleged offense is a misdemeanor under this |
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subtitle that is punishable by a fine only; and |
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(2) the officer may not arrest a person solely on the |
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basis of that offense. |
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(b) The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement by rule shall |
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specify the language that is required to be included in the |
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notification described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 12. The following provisions of the Code of |
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Criminal Procedure are repealed: |
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(1) Article 2.135. |
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SECTION 13. Article 2.13(d), Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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added by this article, applies only to a motor vehicle stop or |
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search that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 14. Articles 2.132 and 2.134, Code of Criminal |
|
Procedure, as amended by this article, apply only to a report |
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covering a calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 2018. |
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SECTION 15. Articles 2.132(h) and (i), 2.1321, and 2.1322, |
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Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this article, apply to an |
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investigation that occurs on or after the effective date of this |
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Act, regardless of whether the potential racial profiling occurred |
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before, on, or after that date. |
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SECTION 16. Not later than September 1, 2018, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall evaluate and change the |
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guidelines for compiling and reporting information required under |
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Article 2.134, Code of Criminal Procedure, as amended by this |
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article, to withstand academic scrutiny. |
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SECTION 17. (a) Not later than December 31, 2017, the Bill |
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Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas, in |
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consultation with large, medium, and small law enforcement |
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agencies, law enforcement associations, and community |
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organizations engaged in the development of law enforcement policy |
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on behalf of the public, shall develop, adopt, and disseminate to |
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all law enforcement agencies in this state a model policy and |
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associated training materials for conducting a motor vehicle stop, |
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in accordance with Article 2.1386, Code of Criminal Procedure, as |
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added by this article. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2018, each law enforcement |
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agency of this state shall adopt the policy required by Article |
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2.1386, Code of Criminal Procedure, as added by this article, if |
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applicable. |
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SECTION 18. Not later than December 1, 2017, the Texas |
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Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt the rules required by |
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Section 543.0045(b), Transportation Code, as added by this article. |
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SECTION 19. The changes in law made by this article apply |
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only to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this |
|
Act. An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
|
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this article if any element of the offense |
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occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 20. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |