BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 252
88R1403 DRS-D	By: Alvarado
	State Affairs
	4/2/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

As proposed, S.B. 252 amends current law relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in SECTION 3 (Section 1701.3095, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends the heading to Chapter 370, Local Government Code, to read as follows:

CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 370, Local Government Code, by adding Section 370.007, as follows:

Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING CERTAIN VETERANS AS PEACE OFFICERS. Authorizes a political subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers, notwithstanding any other law, to commission and employ as a peace officer a lawful permanent resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two years of service before discharge.

SECTION 3. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, by adding Section 1701.3095, as follows:

Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN VETERANS WHO ARE LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS. Requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to issue a peace officer license to a person who is a lawful permanent resident of the United States if the person:

(1) meets the requirements of Chapter 1701 (Law Enforcement Officers) and TCOLE's rules; and

(2) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two years of service before discharge.

SECTION 4. Requires TCOLE, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt or amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 2023.