Earlier this month, the Texas House Committee on Homeland Security and Public Safety heard the emotional case for HB 2702, warranting national attention for its nickname, the “Sandra Bland Act.”
The bill is named after Sandra Bland, the motorist who was involved in a traffic altercation and subsequent arrest in 2015 in Prairie View, Texas, which resulted in her imprisonment. Bland later committed suicide within the cell of the prison that she was held, sparking mass protests of her confinement that occurred throughout the entirety of the nation.
The bill proposes several new stipulations for police officers and the Texas Department of Public Safety across the board. Some of those stipulations include that the Texas Department of Public Safety improve documentation methods and that they go through more rigorous training.
The bill was left pending in committee, however, on his website, State Rep. Garnet Coleman (D–Houston) voiced his intentions to continue to try and push the bill to Gov. Abbott’s desk while working with his partners and supporters in law enforcement.
“After the hearing, we resumed our work with law enforcement stakeholders including CLEAT, TMPA, the Sheriff’s Association, and others to refine the bill. This bill is not yet in its final version and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to get the bill to the Governor’s desk.”
The legislation, in its current form, is opposed by most of the prominent law enforcement groups. It remains to be seen if Coleman’s legislation will be able to receive a vote in front of the full House.
