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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace |
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officers. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL AND |
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COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL |
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GOVERNMENT |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 370.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING CERTAIN VETERANS |
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AS PEACE OFFICERS. Notwithstanding any other law, a political |
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subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers may |
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commission and employ as a peace officer a lawful permanent |
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resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged |
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veteran of the armed forces of the United States with at least two |
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years of service before discharge. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN VETERANS WHO ARE |
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LAWFUL PERMANENT RESIDENTS. The commission shall issue a peace |
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officer license to a person who is a lawful permanent resident of |
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the United States if the person: |
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(1) meets the requirements of this chapter and the |
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commission's rules; and |
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(2) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed |
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forces of the United States with at least two years of service |
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before discharge. |
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SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall adopt or |
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amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, |
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Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |