'Sandra Bland Act' Spurred By Naperville Woman's Jailhouse Death Passes Texas Senate

AUSTIN, TX — Sandra Bland left Illinois in July 2015, hoping to start a new career at her alma mater. Instead, she died three days later in a Texas jail cell, accused of kicking the trooper who pulled her over for failing to signal a lane change. Now, her death could lead to changes in the way Texas jails deal with inmates' mental health issues.

Despite strong opposition from Republicans and police groups, the Texas Senate on Thursday passed legislation to enhance mental-health training for jailers to help prevent inmate suicide — the so-called "Sandra Bland Act."

But the legislation is a stripped-down version of the original bill, which called for more sweeping changes. The pared-down "mental health in jails bill" removes provisions that would've changed police stops protocol after strong opposition from Republican lawmakers and police advocates. The bill now moves on for a vote in the Texas House.

Bland, 28, was found dead in her Texas jail cell on July 13, 2015, three days after her arrest was captured in a cell phone video by a bystander. Her death was ruled a suicide, but in the wake of the tragedy, her family insisted she would not have killed herself and filed a wrongful death suit. They were awarded a $1.9 million settlement from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

• Read more via Downtown Austin Patch

A week after Bland's death drew nationwide headlines, her church, the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal Church in Lisle, held a memorial in her honor.

“We have a young lady on her way to teach at the college she graduated from,” the Rev. Kevin Thornton told reporters at the event. “A ticket for changing lanes doesn’t normally consist of you getting out of your car.”

More Patch coverage on Sandra Bland's Death:

• Congressman Asks Department of Justice to Investigate Sandra Bland’s Death
• Sister ‘Infuriated’ By Dash Cam Footage
• Sandra Bland Tried to Kill Herself Before Arrest: AP
• 'She Didn't Kill Herself': Mourners Gather for Woman Found Dead in Texas Jail
• Texas Public Safety Denies Altering Sandra Bland Dash Cam Footage
• Timeline Leading Up to Death of Sandra Bland Released
• Lawyer for Family of Sandra Bland Describes Police Dash Cam Video
• Family of Naperville Woman Who Died in Jail Seeks Independent Autopsy

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  >>> Photo of Sandra Bland via GoFundMe legal fund page.