House Bill 340 House Author: Seaman et al.
Effective: 5-27-05 Senate Sponsor: Hinojosa
House Bill 340 amends the Water Code to authorize the commission of a navigation district that has established a police force to also establish a volunteer police reserve force. The bill requires the chief of the district police force to appoint volunteers to serve as reserve force members and authorizes the chief to call the reserve force into service whenever the chief considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law. The bill requires the commission to establish qualifications and training standards for reserve force members and to approve an appointment before the person appointed may carry a weapon or otherwise act as a peace officer. The bill sets forth certain restrictions and authorizations for reserve force members who are and members who are not peace officers as described by the Code of Criminal Procedure. House Bill 340 stipulates that reserve force members are not district employees and serve without pay and at the chief's discretion and are not eligible to participate in certain benefit and pension programs. The bill further stipulates that reserve police officers may act only to supplement the district's regular police force and may not assume the full-time duties of regular police officers without complying with the requirements for regular police officers. The bill requires a reserve police officer who is appointed to the reserve force to first execute an oath and a bond before performing any duties. The bill makes a conforming change to the Occupations Code.