BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1650 By: Stiles 5-3-95 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND The 73rd Legislature passed S.J.R. 18, which was subsequently approved by the voters and authorizes the Legislature to prescribe qualifications for persons holding the office of sheriff. Enabling legislation which was also passed provided minimum requirements for that office. The requirements are that the person have a high school diploma or equivalency certificate and be eligible to be licensed under Section 415.058 and 415.059, Government Code. Section 415.058 disqualifies a person from being licensed as an officer or county jailer because of a felony conviction. Section 415.059 sets an age requirement of 21 years of age to become a licensed peace officer, except a person age 18 can also be licensed if he or she has completed and received credit for 60 hours of college courses or received an honorable discharge from the U.S. armed forces after two years of service. In addition, Chapter 415 of the Government Code provides requirements for licensure as a peace officer which includes training, examination, a declaration of satisfactory psychological and emotional health including being free of drug dependency and illegal drug use, and weapons proficiency. The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education is the state agency responsible for licensure. Section 415.053, Government Code, requires a person elected to the office of sheriff to be licensed by the Commission not later than two years from the date the person takes office. PURPOSE This bill would add to the current requirements for persons holding the office of sheriff by requiring the person to have completed the training required for licensing as a peace officer under Chapter 415, Government Code. 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 Section 85.0011, Local Government Code to require a person serving as a sheriff to have completed the training required for licensing as a peace officer under Chapter 415, Government Code. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee amendment #1 makes the training requirement apply only to counties with a population of more than 10,000. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION HB 1650 was considered by the County Affairs Committee in a public hearing on 5/3/95. The following person testified for HB 1650: Dan Smith, representing himself and the Sheriff's Association Legislative Committee. HB 1650 was left pending. HB 1650 was considered as pending business later in the meeting. The committee considered one amendment. The amendment was adopted without objection. HB 1650 was reported favorably, as amended, with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by the record vote of 6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 pnv, 3 absent.