BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1275
                                      By: Turner, B. (Armbrister)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                         05-22-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, the Texas Youth Commission is authorized to apprehend
and take in to custody TYC  escapees and parole violators.  The
apprehension specialists are not currently considered peace
officers and cannot legally arm themselves for personal protection
from potentially volatile environments.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1275 authorizes the Texas Youth Commission to
employ apprehension specialists and commission those persons as
peace officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or
agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, to
include apprehension specialists commissioned by the Texas Youth
Commission (TYC) as officers under Section 61.0931, Human Resources
Code, as persons who are considered peace officers.

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 61G, Human Resources Code, by adding
Section 61.0931, as follows:

     Sec. 61.0931.  APPREHENSION SPECIALISTS.  (a)  Authorizes TYC
     to employ and commission apprehension specialists as peace
     officers for the purpose of apprehending a child under Section
     61.093.
     
     (b)  Requires peace officers employed and commissioned under
       Subsection (a) to be certified by the Commission on Law
       Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Chapter
       415, Government Code.
       
SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.