Committee concurs with Senate amendment to H.171 to add victim-advocate language

Michelle Charles of the Office of Legislative Counsel explained a Senate proposal of amendment to H.171, which addresses the officer-involved-shooting protocol and was described as a minor floor amendment that the Senate Judiciary narrowed.

"The new language is just adding in the role of victim advocates," Charles said, noting the amendment also clarifies that the protocol should describe the process for prosecutorial assessment of investigative materials, including dual independent assessments. She told the committee the protocol must be developed by stakeholders — including the attorney general's office, DCS, chiefs of police and DPS — and presented to the judiciary committees no later than Dec. 1.

Members were told the change is not intended to be substantive; rather it makes explicit a role many participants had already considered part of the process. The committee moved to concur with the Senate amendment and took a straw-poll vote; members responded "aye."