By Stiles                                             H.B. No. 1650
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the qualifications of sheriffs.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 85.0011, Local Government Code, is
    1-5  amended to read as follows:
    1-6        Sec. 85.0011.  QUALIFICATIONS.  (a)  A person is not eligible
    1-7  to serve as sheriff unless the person:
    1-8              (1)  has a high school diploma or a high school
    1-9  equivalency certificate; <and>
   1-10              (2)  is eligible to be licensed under Section 415.058
   1-11  and 415.059, Government Code; and
   1-12              (3)  has completed the training required for licensing
   1-13  as a peace officer under Chapter 415, Government Code.
   1-14        (b)  Subsection (a)(3) does not apply to the eligibility
   1-15  requirements to serve as the sheriff of a county with a population
   1-16  of less than 30,000.
   1-17        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by Section 1 of this Act
   1-18  applies only to a person first elected or appointed to the office
   1-19  of sheriff on or after the effective date of this Act.  A person
   1-20  elected or appointed to the office of sheriff before the effective
   1-21  date of this Act is covered, for the remainder of the term for
   1-22  which the person was elected or appointed, or for any subsequent
   1-23  term for which the person serves as sheriff, by the law relating to
   1-24  qualifications and continuing education in effect when the person
    2-1  was first elected or appointed, and the former law is continued in
    2-2  effect for that purpose.
    2-3        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-4  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-5  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-6  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-7  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.