 The Regular 82nd Legislative Session has come to an end, while we continue to monitor Special Session until final adjournment.
Overall law enforcement was well represented and gained much this session.
TMPA supported many legislative efforts that are on their way to the Governor’s desk.
Several successful bills are from your TMPA legislative agenda!
Senate Bill 1065 by Senator Tommy Williams is on its way to our Governor:
The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) bill will provide a process and protections to individuals providing counseling services to first responders and to first responders who, in the course of their duties, respond to critical incidents such as crime scenes, vehicle accidents, fires, natural disasters, etc. Because critical incidents are typically heavily investigated, scrutinized from every angle by many entities, and often result in legal / court case, TMPA believes it is important, during the counseling process, that an emergency service responder is able to speak freely and without constraint to a CISM team member, with a clear understanding their discussion will be to protected and remain confidential.
Senate Bill 1292 by Senator Glenn Hegar is also on its way to our Governor:
SB 1292 will provide Texas peace officers with the option to use alternative addresses on their state issued drivers’ license. TMPA believes officers are given enough grief at work, the last thing cops need is for someone to track them down using information from the DPS database that is sold to third party companies (drivers’ license information). This bill is a step in the right direction, allowing an officer to use an alternative address on their drivers’ license instead of their home address.
House Bill 1891 by Representative Sarah Davis also passed:
TMPA believes law enforcement should have sufficient time to search for digital evidence. Generally, law enforcement has three days to execute a certain type of search warrant signed by a judge. In cases which rely on digital evidence, such as child pornography, officers usually seize computers when executing a search warrant. In these cases it may take several weeks or months to fully analyze a computer or electronic storage device that has been seized to collect the contraband evidence. HB 1891 extends time to process electronic devices.
Senate Bill 543 by Glenn Hegar also went through with no opposition:
Currently families of soldiers killed in action are not required to pay state probate fees when settling the estate. TMPA believes the same waiver should be extended to the families of peace officers killed in the line of duty. Senate Bill 543 waives probate fees for officers killed in the line of duty.
TMPA extends a sincere thank you to all state officials who supported law enforcement during the 82nd session.
Special thank you to the following State Representatives and their staff: Rep. Larry Taylor, Rep. Sarah Davis, Rep. Allen Fletcher, Rep. Armando Martinez, Rep. Stefani Carter, Rep. Dennis Bonnen, and Rep. Mike Hamilton for all of their efforts and support.
State Senators Glenn Hegar, Joan Huffman, and Tommy Williams and their staff also played a key role in the success of good bills getting through which protect and assist Texas cops. We would also like to recognize Chairman Sid Miller, Chairman Pete Gallego, and Chairman Whitmire for their timeliness in having bills heard and passed through the committee process.
We hope you all continue to stay safe while serving your communities and look forward to seeing you at the TMPA Annual Conference in July.
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