a model ticket form for every police agency

The text as introduced · 687 words

89R4755 MCF-F

By: Bhojani
H.B. No. 2136

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to design and use of a model criminal citation.

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 2B, Code of Criminal

Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2B.0060 to read as follows:

Art. 2B.0060. MODEL CITATION DESIGN. (a) In this article:

(1) "Citation" means any summons, ticket, or other

official document issued to a person by a peace officer that

requires the person to respond or appear.

(2) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law

Enforcement.

(3) "Law enforcement agency" means an agency of the

state or an agency of a political subdivision of the state

authorized by law to employ peace officers.

(b) Not later than September 1 of each even-numbered year,

each law enforcement agency shall adopt, implement, and, as

necessary, amend the citation used by the agency. The citation

implemented by the agency must conform to the model citation

designed, adopted, and disseminated by the commission under this

article.

(c) The commission shall design, adopt, and disseminate to

each law enforcement agency in this state a model citation for the

purpose of:

(1) reducing costs associated with the failure of a

person issued a citation to appear for a scheduled court

appearance; and

(2) improving the efficiency of courts in this state.

(d) The model citation adopted by the commission must:

(1) be based on credible field, academic, or

laboratory research;

(2) include important information at the top of the

citation, including the following in at least 18-point font:

(A) the phone number of the person at the court

who is able to provide additional information to or answer

questions from the person issued a citation; and

(B) the statement: "CALL THIS NUMBER FOR

INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CITATION";

(3) be written in clear, plain language and include,

as applicable:

(A) the date, time, and location at which a

person issued a citation must appear for court;

(B) the offense charged and the action the person

issued a citation is required to take regarding the charge;

(C) the consequences of missing a scheduled court

appearance;

(D) information regarding what the person issued

a citation may expect at court, including an assurance that the

person will not be arrested for an unresolved misdemeanor

punishable by fine only;

(E) details for any available resources to assist

with a court appearance, including resources that provide text

reminders, parking details, general directions to the court,

transportation options, child-care assistance, and rescheduling

instructions; and

(F) details for persons who are unable to afford

fines or costs imposed by a court, including details for a payment

plan, payment deferral, community service, and waiver or reduction

of the fines or costs; and

(4) include any other information, procedure, or best

practice that is supported by credible research or commonly

accepted as a means to achieve the purposes described by Subsection

(c).

(e) The commission shall consult with the following in

designing the model citation:

(1) the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management

Institute of Texas located at Sam Houston State University;

(2) small, medium, and large law enforcement agencies;

(3) court clerks;

(4) the Office of Court Administration of the Texas

Judicial System;

(5) judges;

(6) public defenders; and

(7) prosecutors.

(f) The commission shall provide for a period of public

comment before adopting the model citation design.

(g) Not later than December 31 of each odd-numbered year,

the commission shall:

(1) review the model citation adopted under this

article;

(2) if appropriate, modify or update the design; and

(3) disseminate the design to each law enforcement

agency in this state.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2025, the Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement shall design, adopt, and disseminate

the model citation required under Article 2B.0060, Code of Criminal

Procedure, as added by this Act.

(b) Not later than September 1, 2026, each law enforcement

agency to which Article 2B.0060, Code of Criminal Procedure, as

added by this Act, applies shall adopt a citation as required by

that article.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.