BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4527

By: King, Phil

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that, in order to protect the rights of minors to decide to carry a pregnancy to term, peace officers should be trained on the laws pertaining to forced abortions. C.S.H.B. 4527 seeks to require peace officers to complete a one-hour education and training program on these laws.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4527 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), not later than January 1, 2022, to develop a one-hour education and training program on the laws pertaining to forced abortions. The bill requires the training to include instruction related to the circumstances under which forced abortions commonly occur and the rights of pregnant women, including minors. TCOLE must regularly review the content of the training program and update the program as necessary.

C.S.H.B. 4527 requires that TCOLE require a peace officer to complete the coerced abortion education and training program as part of the minimum curriculum requirements for law enforcement training programs and schools. The bill requires an officer who did not complete the program as part of their basic training to do so not later than the last day of the first full continuing education training period after the officer is licensed. The training requirement applies only to a person who submits an application for a peace officer license on or after January 1, 2022.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 4527 differs from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways to make a technical correction.