By:  Madla                                            S.B. No. 1345

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to initial training and continuing education for police

 1-2     chiefs.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 96, Education Code, is

 1-5     amended by adding Section 96.641 to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 96.641.  INITIAL TRAINING AND CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR

 1-7     POLICE CHIEFS.  (a)  The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management

 1-8     Institute of Texas shall establish and offer a program of initial

 1-9     training and a program of continuing education for police chiefs.

1-10     The curriculum for each program must relate to law enforcement

1-11     management issues.  The institute shall develop the curriculum for

1-12     the programs.  The curriculum must be approved by the Commission on

1-13     Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

1-14           (b)  Each police chief must receive at least 40 hours of

1-15     continuing education provided by the institute under this section

1-16     each 24-month period.

1-17           (c)  An individual appointed or elected to that individual's

1-18     first position as chief must receive not fewer than 80 hours of

1-19     initial training for new chiefs under this section.

1-20           (d)  A newly appointed or elected police chief shall complete

1-21     the initial training program for new chiefs not later than the

 2-1     second anniversary of that individual's appointment or election as

 2-2     chief.  The initial training program for new chiefs is in addition

 2-3     to the initial training and continuing education required by

 2-4     Chapter 415, Government Code.  On satisfactory completion of the

 2-5     initial training program for new chiefs, the next 24-month period

 2-6     under Subsection (b) begins for an individual on the first

 2-7     anniversary of the date the individual completed the initial

 2-8     training program.

 2-9           (e)  The institute by rule may provide a waiver of:

2-10                 (1)  the requirement of all or part of the 80 hours of

2-11     initial training for new chiefs to the extent the individual has

2-12     satisfactorily completed equivalent training in the 24 months

2-13     preceding the individual's appointment or election; or

2-14                 (2)  the continuing education requirements of

2-15     Subsection (b) if the individual has satisfactorily completed

2-16     equivalent continuing education in the preceding 24 months.

2-17           (f)  An individual who is subject to the continuing education

2-18     requirements of Subsection (b) is exempt from other continuing

2-19     education requirements under Chapter 415.03, Government Code.

2-20           (g)  In  this section, "police chief" or "chief" means the

2-21     head of a police department.

2-22           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-23           (b)  The Bill Blackwood Law Enforcement Management Institute

2-24     of Texas shall establish the initial training and continuing

2-25     education programs required by Section 96.641, Education Code, as

 3-1     added by this Act, not later than January 1, 1998.

 3-2           (c)  Section 96.641(c), Government Code, as added by this

 3-3     Act, requiring not fewer than 80 hours of initial training for

 3-4     newly appointed police chiefs applies only to an individual

 3-5     appointed or elected as police chief on or after January 1, 1998.

 3-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 3-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 3-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 3-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

3-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.