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Senate Bill 1237 |
Senate Author: Estes |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
House Sponsor: Heflin |
Senate Bill 1237 amends the Human Resources Code to authorize a juvenile probation officer to carry a firearm in the course of the officer's duties if the officer possesses a firearms proficiency certificate issued by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, is authorized to do so by the chief juvenile probation officer of the juvenile probation department that employs the officer, has been employed for at least one year by the department, and has not been designated a perpetrator in a Texas Juvenile Probation Commission abuse, neglect, or exploitation investigation.
The bill amends the Penal Code to exempt a juvenile probation officer who is authorized to carry a firearm from application of the offenses of the unlawful carrying of a weapon or of possessing a weapon in a prohibited place.
The bill amends the Occupations Code to require the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education and the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission to adopt by rule a memorandum of understanding that establishes a program that provides instruction in the responsible use of firearms by juvenile probation officers. The bill provides for the administration of the training program, the issuance of firearms proficiency certificates to juvenile probation officers, and the establishment of reasonable and necessary fees for the administration of the training program.