SRC-SLL S.B. 995 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 995
By: Harris
Criminal Justice
4-1-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is authorized to
commission an honorably retired commissioned member of DPS and 300 other
persons as special rangers.  DPS generally commissions all of the eligible
retirees as Special Texas Rangers.  Of the current 500 retired persons
commissioned as Special Rangers only about 50 have been Texas Rangers.
Some retired DPS members, who were not Texas Rangers, feel uncomfortable
about assuming such a status since they are most identifiable by their
tenure as DPS officers.  To allow a Texas Ranger, of which there are
currently 105 active members, to retain a regular commission on honorable
retirement would not be a major shift from the current procedure since the
former Texas Rangers are currently commissioned as Special Rangers.  This
bill will provide new regulations regarding designation as a retired Texas
Ranger, a special ranger, or a special department of public safety
officer. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 995 provides new regulations regarding designation as a
retired Texas Ranger, a special ranger, or a special department of public
safety officer. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 411B, Government Code, by adding Section
411.0211, as follows: 

Sec.  411.0211.  RETIRED TEXAS RANGERS.  Provides that an honorably
retired or retiring member of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) who
has served at least 10 years as a Texas Ranger is entitled on application
to DPS to retain the person's rank and commission as a Texas Ranger if
certain conditions are met.  Sets forth authority and duties of a Texas
Ranger commissioned under this section.  Requires DPS to revoke a Texas
Ranger commission issued under this section under certain conditions. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 411.023, Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  411.023.  New heading: SPECIAL RANGERS AND SPECIAL DEPARTMENT OF
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS.  Authorizes the Public Safety Commission to
appoint as special department of public safety officers honorably retired
commissioned officers of DPS and to appoint not more than 300 persons as
special rangers.  Prohibits a special ranger or special department of
public safety officer from enforcing a law except one the violation of
which is a criminal offense, rather than one designed to protect life and
property.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 415.034(e), Government Code, to make a
conforming change. 

SECTION 4. Authorizes DPS, if more than 300 persons serve as special
rangers under Section 411.023, Government Code, on the effective date of
this Act, to allow current members to serve until their commissions expire
but DPS is prohibited from appointing or reappointing special rangers
while the number of special rangers exceeds 300. 
 
SECTION 5. Effective date: September 1, 1997.

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.