Texas House passes Botham Jean Act

The Texas’ House of Representatives passed a bill on Friday called the “Botham Jean Act”, named after a Black man who was killed by a off-duty officer in 2018, The Dallas Morning News reported.

The legislation would require an officers’ body-worn camera to be activated for the entirety of an investigation that involves them. 

The bill’s sponsor, Texas Rep. Carl O. Sherman (D) said in a statement that the new legislation is focused on “systemic accountability” in policing and added that it was a “watershed’ moment to see the bipartisan support of the bill. 

“I am thankful that we are continuing to work from a place of bi-partisanship and that we have found a common ground to move Bo’s Law into law in the State of Texas. I also want to thank House Speaker Dade Phelan for his support,” Sherman said in his statement. 

“In keeping with the spirit of the young man who HB929 was named after ‘Let the spirit of Botham Jean continue to rise among us,’” Sherman said.

The bill was named “929” to honor Jean’s birthday, according to the Morning News. 

The bill comes after Botham Jean was killed by off-duty Dallas police officer Amber Guyer in 2018, who shot Jean in his apartment after mistaking him as a burglar. Guyer, who was fired, was convicted of murder in 2019 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The House voted 108-34 to pass the bill, where it next heads to the state Senate.