BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1953
                                          By: Oakley (Armbrister)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                          5-24-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently, there are no provisions in Texas law for law enforcement
management training of police chiefs.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1953 requires the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement
Management Institute of Texas to establish programs of initial and
continuing education for police chiefs.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted
to the Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas
under SECTION 1 (Section 96.641(e), Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 96D, Education Code, by adding Section
96.641, as follows:

     Sec. 96.641.  INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR
     POLICE CHIEFS.  (a) Requires the Bill Blackwood Law
     Enforcement Management Institute of Texas (institute) to
     establish and offer a program of initial training and a
     program of continuing education for police chiefs.  Requires
     the curriculum for each program to relate to law enforcement
     management issues.  Requires the institute to develop the
     curriculum for the programs.  Requires the curriculum to be
     approved by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
     Standards and Education.
     
     (b) Requires each police chief to receive at least 40 hours
       of continuing education provided by the institute under this
       section each 24-month period.
       
       (c) Requires an individual appointed or elected to that
       individual's first position as chief to receive not less
       than 80 hours of initial training for new chiefs under this
       section.
       
       (d) Requires a newly appointed or elected police chief to
       complete the initial training program for new chiefs not
       later than the second anniversary of that individual's
       appointment or election as chief.  Provides that the
       training program for new chiefs is in addition to the
       initial training and continuing education required by
       Chapter 415, Government Code.  Provides that, on
       satisfactory completion of the initial training program for
       new chiefs, the next 24-month period under Subsection (b)
       begins for an individual on the first anniversary of the
       date the individual completed the initial training program.
       
       (e) Authorizes the institute, by rule, to provide a waiver
       of certain requirements.
       
       (f) Exempts an individual who is subject to the continuing
       education requirements of Subsection (b) from other
       continuing education requirements under Section 415.034,
       Government Code.
       
       (g) Defines "police chief" or "chief."
       
       SECTION 2.   Amends Sections 96.64(b), (c), and (h), Education Code,
as follows:

     (b) Deletes language regarding the operation and management of
     the institute.
     
     (c) Reduces the size of the institute's advisory board from
     nine to seven members by deleting a member appointed by the
     president of Texas A&M University, and a member appointed by
     the president of the Texas Woman's University.
     
     (h) Provides that four, rather than five, of the appointed
     members of the advisory board constitute a quorum.
     
     SECTION 3.     (a) Effective date: September 1, 1995.

     (b) Requires the institute to establish the initial training
     and continuing education programs required by Section 96.641,
     Education Code, not later than January 1, 1996.
     
     (c) Provides that Section 96.641(c), Education Code, applies
     only to an individual appointed or elected as police chief on
     or after January 1, 1997.
     
     (d) Provides that positions of the members of the advisory
     board of the institute that are filled by appointment by the
     presidents of Texas A&M University and Texas Woman's
     University are abolished on September 1, 1995.
     
     SECTION 4.     Emergency clause.