By Yarbrough H.B. No. 2204 75R6865 JMM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the entitlement of certain peace officers to benefits 1-3 for injuries sustained in the course of employment as a peace 1-4 officer. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 504, Labor Code, is amended 1-7 by adding Section 504.019 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 504.019. COVERAGE FOR PEACE OFFICER. A peace officer 1-9 employed by a political subdivision who is otherwise entitled to 1-10 benefits under this chapter for an injury sustained while 1-11 performing actions in the course and scope of the officer's 1-12 employment may not be denied benefits on the grounds that the peace 1-13 officer was not on duty at the time the injury occurred. 1-14 SECTION 2. Section 142.004, Local Government Code, is 1-15 amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: 1-16 (f) A peace officer who is otherwise entitled to benefits 1-17 under this section for an injury sustained while performing actions 1-18 in the course and scope of the officer's employment may not be 1-19 denied benefits on the grounds that the peace officer was not on 1-20 duty at the time the injury occurred. 1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-3 passage, and it is so enacted.