On Monday, November 28, 2022, Representative Cody Harris (Palestine) pre-filed House Bill 799 in an effort to halt anti-police District Attorneys and law enforcement agencies from soliciting, engineering, and using false allegations to negatively impact police staffing, crime reduction, and public safety. The measure will ensure due process for officers placed on a Brady list.
“Soros-funded DAs across the state have been trying to eliminate good cops by unilaterally putting them on the Brady list where they have no due process. This bill is designed to stop these radical DAs and reinstate the Constitutionally guaranteed rights of law enforcement officers. I’m proud to work with my local law enforcement officials as well as pro-law enforcement organizations across the state to put an end to this abusive practice,” said State Representative Cody Harris.
The legislation seeks to limit the use of unsubstantiated information as it relates to a peace officer’s role as a witness in a criminal proceeding. Furthermore, the bill would provide due process for officers placed on a Brady list, requiring specific information to be brought forward for purposes of a fair hearing for the officer.
“Brady lists have been weaponized by anti-police politicians who’ve failed at defunding the police but have found a clever way to essentially take officers off the street without having what the criminals have—due process,” said Charley Wilkison, Executive Director for Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT).
“Without due process, these officers are left unable to uphold their oath to serve their communities. We were able to get the bill filed last session for the first time in the State of Texas, and we intend on doing all we can to see this legislation to the finish line this session,” said Wilkison.
Representative Harris has been a strong supporter of Texas law enforcement, and CLEAT intends to work with him and the legislature to ensure officers working across the state are not placed on a list that destroys their reputation, career, and ability to do their job, without just cause or any form of due process.
