1 By: _Gutierrez_____ S.B. No.

_____

3 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

4 AN ACT

5 relating to the automatic suspension and investigation of law

6 enforcement personnel involved in a shooting with a child.

7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

8 SECTION 1. Chapter 141, Local Government Code, is amended

9 by adding Section 141.036 to read as follow:

10 Sec. 141.036. AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION. (a) A law enforcement

11 officer who is involved in a shooting with a child shall be

12 immediately placed on administrative leave or suspended from

13 active duty until an investigation is conducted.

14 (b) The investigation of the shooting involving a child

15 shall be conducted by an independent law enforcement agency or

16 investigator.

17 (c) The suspended officer or officers are prohibited from

18 communicating with potential witnesses or suspects during the

19 investigation.

20 (d) If the investigation determines that the use of force

21 was unjustified or that the law enforcement officer failed to

22 intervene to prevent the death of a child, the suspended officer

23 or officers may be terminated, suspended, or subject to any other

24 disciplinary action.

25 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.