By Dutton                                             H.B. No. 2561
       74R3869 CAG-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the appointment and duties of a jail administrator in
    1-3  certain counties.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 351, Local Government Code,
    1-6  is amended by adding Section 351.0425 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 351.0425.  JAIL ADMINISTRATOR IN COUNTY WITH POPULATION
    1-8  OF MORE THAN 2.4 MILLION.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county
    1-9  with a population of more than 2.4 million may appoint a jail
   1-10  administrator who shall exercise all power, supervision, and
   1-11  control over the jail, including the duties imposed by law on the
   1-12  sheriff with respect to the jail.
   1-13        (b)  The jail administrator, with the approval of the
   1-14  commissioners court, may appoint appropriate staff and support
   1-15  personnel.
   1-16        (c)  The jail administrator, with the approval of the
   1-17  commissioners court, may appoint one or more correctional officers
   1-18  as appropriate to meet minimum state or federal standards.
   1-19  Correctional officers must be certified peace officers.
   1-20        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-1  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-2  passage, and it is so enacted.