Bill Text: TX HB4187 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the reporting of certain felony offenses to prosecuting attorneys and to allegations regarding a peace officer's retaliatory action taken because of that report.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-25 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB4187 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4187-Introduced.html

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86R14303 MEW-F
By: Middleton H.B. No. 4187

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the reporting of certain felony offenses to prosecuting
attorneys and to allegations regarding a peace officer's
retaliatory action taken because of that report.
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. REPORTING CRIMINAL OFFENSES TO PROSECUTING
ATTORNEYS. (a) A person with knowledge of the commission of a
felony offense other than a state jail felony under the laws of this
state may report the offense to any attorney who prosecutes
criminal cases on behalf of the state.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), if a peace officer in this
state has not prepared a written report relating to the offense
reported under Subsection (a), the attorney shall investigate the
report under Subsection (a) and may refer the matter to:
(1) a law enforcement agency; or
(2) a court with jurisdiction over the offense.
(c) An attorney to whom a report of the commission of an
offense is made under Subsection (a) is required to investigate the
report only if the person making the report demonstrates that:
(1) the person previously reported the offense to law
enforcement more than one year before the date of the report under
Subsection (a); and
(2) following the report to law enforcement under
Subdivision (1), the person diligently cooperated with law
enforcement in investigating the offense for a period of not less
than one year.
SECTION 2. Section 411.0207, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as
follows:
(a) In this section:
(1) "Organized [, "organized] criminal activity"
means conduct that constitutes an offense under Section 71.02,
Penal Code.
(2) "Retaliatory action" incudes the filing of
criminal charges, the seizure of property, or the arrest or search
of an individual without probable cause.
(c-1) The unit may investigate an allegation of a
retaliatory action taken by an individual elected, appointed, or
employed as a peace officer for a governmental entity against a
person because the person made a report under Article 2.33(a), Code
of Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.