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.