Moody Files Major Law Enforcement Transparency Measure

posted on 3.01.2021

Texas House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody, D-El Paso, has made good on a pledge to file significant law enforcement transparency reforms in the 87^th Texas Legislature.

Moody unveiled HB 2383 on Friday, which facilitates the release of information concerning “in custody” deaths, use of force reports, law enforcement disciplinary information, and access to body and dash camera video. 

Earlier in the week, Moody announced the formation of the bipartisan House Criminal Justice Reform Caucus which he will co-chair with Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, Chairman of the House Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence Committee.

The caucus will focus its efforts on improving the ability of the public to gain law enforcement records and video, so it may hold police accountable for their actions. 

He explored those issues in a recent online panel discussion co-hosted by the FOI Foundation of Texas and the ACLU of Texas.

 View panel discussion

Moody has been a driving force on the issue in the past two sessions and noted that the caucus’ creation was “born out of a lot of frustration at the end of last session.” 

KXAN-TV Austin investigative reporter Josh Hinkle led the discussion which also featured law enforcement transparency advocates Eva Ruth Moravec of the Texas Justice Initiative and Kathy Mitchell of Just Liberty.

Stations can also catch Hinkle’s report on the session, which explores the so-called “dead suspects” loophole that prevents the release of information concerning in custody deaths and the problems the public encounters when accessing body cam video.

It will likely take two to three weeks before HB 2383 is referred to a House committee for consideration.

Questions? Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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