1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to initial training and continuing education for police
1-3 chiefs.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 96, Education Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Section 96.641 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 96.641. INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR
1-8 POLICE CHIEFS. (a) The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management
1-9 Institute of Texas shall establish and offer a program of initial
1-10 training and a program of continuing education for police chiefs.
1-11 The curriculum for each program must relate to law enforcement
1-12 management issues. The institute shall develop the curriculum for
1-13 the programs. The curriculum must be approved by the Commission on
1-14 Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.
1-15 (b) Each police chief must receive at least 40 hours of
1-16 continuing education provided by the institute under this section
1-17 each 24-month period.
1-18 (c) An individual appointed or elected to that individual's
1-19 first position as chief must receive not fewer than 80 hours of
1-20 initial training for new chiefs in accordance with Subsections (d)
1-21 and (e).
1-22 (d) A newly appointed or elected police chief shall complete
1-23 the initial training program for new chiefs not later than the
1-24 second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as
2-1 chief. The initial training program for new chiefs is in addition
2-2 to the initial training and continuing education required by
2-3 Chapter 415, Government Code. The first 24-month period begins
2-4 under Subsection (b) for an individual who completes the initial
2-5 training program for new chiefs on the first anniversary of the
2-6 date the individual completed the initial training program.
2-7 (e) The institute by rule may provide for the waiver of:
2-8 (1) the requirement of all or part of the 80 hours of
2-9 initial training for new chiefs to the extent the new chief has
2-10 satisfactorily completed equivalent training in the 24 months
2-11 preceding the individual's appointment or election; or
2-12 (2) the continuing education requirements of
2-13 Subsection (b) for an individual who has satisfactorily completed
2-14 equivalent continuing education in the preceding 24 months.
2-15 (f) An individual who is subject to the continuing education
2-16 requirements of Subsection (b) is exempt from other continuing
2-17 education requirements under Section 415.034, Government Code.
2-18 (g) In this section, "police chief" or "chief" means the
2-19 head of a police department.
2-20 (h) The chief of a municipal police department must be
2-21 licensed as a peace officer by the commission no later than one
2-22 year after the date that the chief is appointed to the position of
2-23 police chief. The commission shall establish requirements for
2-24 licensing and for revocation, suspension, cancellation, or denial
2-25 of peace officer license for a police chief.
2-26 (i) A police chief who does not comply with this section
2-27 cannot continue to be the chief.
3-1 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-2 (b) The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute
3-3 of Texas shall establish the initial training and continuing
3-4 education programs required by Section 96.641, Education Code, as
3-5 added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1998.
3-6 (c) Section 96.641(c), Education Code, as added by this Act,
3-7 requiring not fewer than 80 hours of initial training for newly
3-8 appointed or elected police chiefs applies only to an individual
3-9 newly appointed or elected as police chief on or after January 1,
3-10 1999.
3-11 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-12 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-13 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-14 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-15 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1881 was passed by the House on May
2, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1881 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 1997, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor