Relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions by former peace officers.

89(R) HB 4176 - Engrossed version - Bill Text

89R23905 AJZ-D

By: LaHood, Anchía, Lopez of Bexar,

H.B. No. 4176

Louderback, Morgan

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the investigation of certain motor vehicle collisions

by former peace officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 550.041, Transportation

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 550.041. INVESTIGATION BY PEACE OFFICER
OR DESIGNEE OF

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY
.

SECTION 2. Section 550.041, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:

(c)

A former peace officer who is designated by a law

enforcement agency and who has successfully completed a training

program on investigating motor vehicle collisions approved by the

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement may investigate a motor vehicle

collision, without regard to whether the collision occurred on

property to which this chapter applies, if:

(1) no offense was committed during the collision; and

(2)

no injury or death of a person occurred as a result

of the collision.

SECTION 3. The heading to Section 550.062, Transportation

Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 550.062. OFFICER'S
OR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

DESIGNEE'S
COLLISION REPORT.

SECTION 4. Section 550.062, Transportation Code, is amended

by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b), (b-1), and

(c) to read as follows:

(a-1)

A former peace officer who is designated by a law

enforcement agency to investigate a motor vehicle collision in

accordance with Section 550.041(c) shall make a written report

summarizing the findings of the investigation.

(b) The report required by Subsection (a)
or (a-1)
must be

filed electronically with the department not later than the 10th

day after the date of the collision.

(b-1) If the motor vehicle collision involved a combination

of vehicles operating under a permit issued under Section 623.402,

the report required by Subsection (a)
or (a-1)
must include the

weight and the number of axles of the vehicle combination.

(c) This section applies without regard to whether the

officer
or former peace officer designated by a law enforcement

agency, as applicable,
investigates the collision at the location

of the collision and immediately after the collision or afterwards

by interviewing those involved in the collision or witnesses to the

collision.

SECTION 5. Section 550.068, Transportation Code, is amended

to read as follows:

Sec. 550.068. CHANGING COLLISION REPORT. (a) Except as

provided by Subsection (b), a change in or a modification of a

written report of a motor vehicle collision prepared by a peace

officer
or former peace officer designated by a law enforcement

agency
that alters a material fact in the report may be made only by

the peace officer
or former peace officer, as applicable,
who

prepared the report.

(b) A change in or a modification of the written report of

the collision may be made by a person other than the peace officer

or former peace officer, as applicable, who prepared the report
if:

(1) the change is made by a written supplement to the

report; and

(2) the written supplement clearly indicates the name

of the person who originated the change.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.