AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Abbott on Tuesday signed eight public safety bills into law in efforts to protect Texans.
The package of bills includes measures to ensure that Texas communities have the proper resources needed to support law enforcement, to enhance criminal penalties for growing classes of crimes and to hold what Abbott calls "rogue district attorneys" accountable.
“One thing that we all agree upon is providing resources that will make our communities safer, as well as supporting our law enforcement in the State of Texas," said Gov. Abbott. “We will sign bills that rein in the rash of illegal street racing. Law enforcement needs more and better tools to crack down on street racing in Texas communities. I'll also sign a bill to deter catalytic converter theft, punish criminals who remove ankle monitors, and a law that puts violent criminals behind bars for longer if they leave their victim permanently paralyzed or facing serious brain damage. Additionally, I'm signing a law to provide support for our rural law enforcement officers."
Among those present at the bill signing ceremony were several senators including Carol Alvarado, Brian Birdwell and Royce West, alongside several public safety advocates such as Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) President Marvin Ryals, Texas Municipal Police Association (TMPA) Executive Director Kevin Lawrence and Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw.
"We at CLEAT want to thank Governor Abbott for working with us and allowing us to present the working law enforcement officer's side of proposed legislation," said CLEAT President Ryals. "House Bill 17 begins the process of allowing the citizens of Texas to be able to hold some of these out-of-control District Attorneys accountable for intentionally and arrogantly refusing to do their constitutional duty by enforcing the criminal laws of Texas.
TMPA executive director Kevin Lawrence echoed the same sentiments, praising Gov. Abbott for maintaining a safer state.
"These bills address six different issues, but they all have the same net effect. They will make our citizens, our communities, and our state safer. Governor, we appreciate the fact that you always make the safety of our officers and of our citizens your number-one priority,” said Lawrence.
The eight bills signed are as follows:
- HB 17 – holds elected prosecutors accountable and prohibits the refusal to prosecute offenses
- HB 28 – enhances criminal penalty for aggravated assault from as second-degree to a first-degree felony if a deadly weapon was used and traumatic brain or spine injury incurred.
- HB 1442 – addresses street racing and street takeovers, giving law enforcement and prosecutors tools go after the perpetrators
- HB 2899 – allows for the immediate removal of vehicles involved in street racing or reckless driving
- SB 22 – increases salaries of sheriffs, prosecutors and their staff in order to hire more staff and purchase more necessary equipment
- SB 840 – punishes violence against health care workers in the workplace by enhancing the penalty from a Class A misdemeanor to a third-degree felony if the victim is a hospital employee
- SB 1004 – increases accountability for parolees who have ankle monitors by making it a state jail felony for anyone tampering with or removing the device
- SB 224 – penalizes the increasing crime of catalytic converter theft