Bill: SB 1849, 85(R) - 2017
Committee
Senate Criminal Justice
2nd Chamber Committee
House Criminal Jurisprudence
Vote Recommendation
| Vote Recommendation |
Economic Freedom |
Property Rights |
Personal Responsibility |
Limited Government |
Individual Liberty |
| Yes |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Neutral |
Positive |
Positive |
Author(s)
John Whitmire
Sponsor(s)
Garnet F. Coleman
Bill Caption
Relating to interactions between law enforcement and individuals
detained or arrested on suspicion of the commission of criminal
offenses, to the confinement, conviction, or release of those
individuals, and to grants supporting populations that are more
likely to interact frequently with law enforcement.
Fiscal Notes
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for SB1849, As
Engrossed: a negative impact of ($166,464) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The
fiscal implication of certain components of this legislation relating to action of counties is
indeterminate. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of
funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
Bill Analysis
This bill would make numerous procedural and substantive changes to help prevent unnecessary arrests for minor traffic stops, prevent minor stops from escalating into tragic encounters between civilians and law enforcement, and improve the way that jails are administered so that the health and safety of inmates is better protected. Among other things, this bill would strengthen pretrial diversion programs, modify grants for the establishment and expansion of community collaboratives, require the adoption of new rules by the commission on jail standards, establish a prisoner safety fund, require sheriffs to report certain county jail data on a monthly basis, and add to minimum curriculum requirements for peace officers with respect to de-escalation techniques. This is not an exhaustive list but a summary of the highlights of this detailed reform bill.
Vote Recommendation Notes
This legislation supports limited government and individual liberty by preventing unnecessary incarceration in many cases. Balance in the criminal justice system requires that punishments are proportional to crimes and that once law enforcement takes the step of arresting a person and placing them in the custody of any portion of the criminal justice system, be it local or state level, systems are in place to protect the heath and safety those who are in custody. For these reasons we support SB 1849,
Organizations Supporting
American Civil Liberties Union of Texas
Disability Rights Texas
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Texas
Texas Appleseed
Texas Public Policy Foundation
