Texas Occupations Code 1701.163 – Minimum Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies
Terms Used In Texas Occupations Code 1701.163
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Rule: includes regulation. See Texas Government Code 311.005
The commission, with input from an advisory committee, shall by rule establish minimum standards with respect to the creation or continued operation of a law enforcement agency based on the function, size, and jurisdiction of the agency, including:
(1) a determination regarding the public benefit of creating the agency in the community;
(2) the sustainable funding sources for the agency;
(3) the physical resources available to officers, including:
(A) all standard duty firearms;
(B) less lethal force weapons, including a requirement of at least one per officer on duty;
(C) effective communications equipment;
(D) protective equipment, including a requirement of at least one bullet-resistant vest per officer on duty;
(E) officer uniforms; and
(F) patrol vehicles and associated equipment;
(4) the physical facilities of the agency, including any evidence room, dispatch area, or public area;
(5) the policies of the agency, including policies on:
(A) use of force;
(B) vehicle pursuit;
(C) professional conduct of officers;
(D) domestic abuse protocols;
(E) response to missing persons;
(F) supervision of part-time officers;
(G) impartial policing;
(H) active shooters; and
(I) barricaded subjects;
(6) the administrative structure of the agency;
(7) liability insurance; and
(8) any other standard the commission considers necessary.