By Moreno                                              H.B. No. 551
       74R996 PAM-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to certain supplies for constables and deputy constables.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 86, Local Government Code,
    1-5  is amended to add Section 86.004 to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 86.004.  NECESSARY ITEMS.  The commissioners court of a
    1-7  county shall provide to a constable and deputy constable engaged in
    1-8  law enforcement activity:
    1-9              (1)  operational communication apparatus other than an
   1-10  office telephone, which may include a two-way radio or mobile
   1-11  phone;
   1-12              (2)  a reasonable number of bulletproof vests;
   1-13              (3)  at least one uniform for each person;
   1-14              (4)  at least one telephone for each office; and
   1-15              (5)  at least one vehicle for each office or
   1-16  reimbursement for mileage and maintenance for a vehicle used by the
   1-17  constable or deputy constable to perform official duties.
   1-18        SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning on the first day of a
   1-19  county's first fiscal year that begins after the effective date of
   1-20  this Act.
   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.