The bill, S.B. No. 281, introduces new provisions regarding the retention and disclosure of complaints against police officers alleging official oppression. It amends the Local Government Code by adding Sections 143.364 and 174.009, which require municipal departments and political subdivisions to retain such complaints for at least five years after the officer's employment ends. Additionally, they must create an abstract of the complaint to be retained indefinitely once the original is destroyed. The bill specifies that these complaints and their abstracts are public information and are not exempt from disclosure under certain provisions of the Government Code.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 552.108 of the Government Code to clarify that the exception to disclosure does not apply to complaints or abstracts related to official oppression. It also adds Section 614.024, which imposes similar retention requirements on municipalities for complaints against peace officers. The provisions in Sections 143.364 and 174.009 prevail over any conflicting laws or agreements, ensuring that the retention and disclosure requirements are upheld. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds vote or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 552.108 (Government Code 552)