By:  Eckels                                           H.B. No. 2328
       73R2576 JRD-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to benefits to peace officers to recognize their work in
    1-3  the field of law enforcement.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 36.10, Penal Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Subsection (d) to read as follows:
    1-7        (d)  Sections 36.08 (Gift to Public Servant) and 36.09
    1-8  (Offering Gift to Public Servant) of this code do not apply to a
    1-9  benefit to a person who is a peace officer under Article 2.12, Code
   1-10  of Criminal Procedure, or other law, if:
   1-11              (1)  the value of the benefit does not exceed $100; and
   1-12              (2)  the benefit is publicly conferred to recognize the
   1-13  person's achievements in the field of law enforcement.
   1-14        SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 415, Government Code, is
   1-15  amended by adding Section 415.0625 to read as follows:
   1-16        Sec. 415.0625.  ACCEPTANCE OF BENEFIT TO RECOGNIZE
   1-17  ACHIEVEMENT.  A person may confer and a peace officer may accept a
   1-18  benefit in recognition of the peace officer's achievements in the
   1-19  field of law enforcement as provided by Section 36.10(d), Penal
   1-20  Code.
   1-21        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-22  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-23  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-24  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-1  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-2  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-3  passage, and it is so enacted.