By Oakley H.B. No. 1881
75R7227 GJH-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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 in consultation with the Texas Police Chiefs
1-14 Association.
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 Chapter 415, Government Code.
2-18 (g) In this section, "police chief" or "chief" means the
2-19 head of a police department.
2-20 SECTION 2. (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
2-21 (b) The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute
2-22 of Texas shall establish the initial training and continuing
2-23 education programs required by Section 96.641, Education Code, as
2-24 added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1998.
2-25 (c) Section 96.641(c), Education Code, as added by this Act,
2-26 requiring not fewer than 80 hours of initial training for newly
2-27 appointed or elected police chiefs applies only to an individual
3-1 newly appointed or elected as police chief on or after January 1,
3-2 1999.
3-3 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-4 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-7 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
3-8 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 1
3-9 Amend H.B. 1881 as follows:
3-10 (1) On page 2, line 20, after subsection (g), add
3-11 subsections (h) and (i) to read, "(h) The chief of a municipal
3-12 police department must be licensed as a peace officer by the
3-13 commission no later than one year after the date that the chief is
3-14 appointed to the position of police chief. The commission shall
3-15 establish requirements for licensing and for revocation,
3-16 suspension, cancellation, or denial of peace officer license for a
3-17 police chief."
3-18 "(i) A police chief who does not comply with this section
3-19 can not continue to be the chief."
3-20 Keel
3-21 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO. 2
3-22 Amend H.B. 1881 as follows:
3-23 (1) On page 1, line 13, insert period after programs.
3-24 Strike "in consultation with the Police Chief's Association." Add
3-25 "The curriculum must be approved by the Commission on Law
3-26 Enforcement Officer Standards and Education."
3-27 (2) On page 2, line 17, after "415" insert ".034".
4-1 Oakley