After a bail reform bill passed in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott said it was overdue and he will sign it into law.
At the end of August, the Texas House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 6, known as the Damon Allen Act, according to a press release.
Abbott said in the release that the bill will “reform our broken bail system in Texas.”
The legislation is named after Trooper Damon Allen, who was murdered in 2017 by a man out on bond, according to the press release.
“His killer was out on a $15,000 bond despite having previously been convicted for a charge arising from assaulting a public servant, and having been arrested on charges of evading arrest and aggravated assault on a public servant,” Abbott said in a press release. “Senate Bill 6 will help prevent senseless murders like this in the future. I look forward to signing the Damon Allen Act into law and ensuring that our communities remain safe and secure.”
Senate Bill 6 requires accused offenders of crimes to pay in order to be released from jail, according to KVUE News. The lower chamber of the Texas Legislature, which is in its second special session, passed the bill 85-40, according to KVUE News.
The state Senate passed SB 6 26-5, as well as approved amendments to the measure, according to the Houston Chronicle.
“Thank you to Sen. Joan Huffman, Reps. Kyle Kacal, Andrew Murr and Reggie Smith, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan for your leadership on the Damon Allen Act, which will reform our broken bail system in Texas and keep our communities safe,” according to a press release. “Public safety is at risk because of our current bail system that recklessly allows dangerous criminals back onto our streets, which is why I made bail reform an emergency item during the 87th Legislative Session.”
