HBA-JRA, ALS H.B. 722 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 722 By: Staples Agriculture and Livestock 7/15/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 76th Legislature, there were 12 peace officer positions in the Texas Forest Service (TFS), with only 3 of these officers working in full-time positions. In the past, the TFS's responsibilities were confined to East Texas, exclusively dealing with the investigation of wildfires and wildland arson. Today, the TFS is responsible for the investigation of statewide wildfires, the investigation and prosecution of timber theft (which is now a prevalent problem in East Texas), and training local fire departments and enforcement personnel on those topics. There is concern that the number of enforcement officer positions prior to the 76th Legislature was not adequate to address the increased workload on the Texas Forest Service. H.B. 722 allows the TFS to appoint 25 peace officers to execute its duties. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 88.103, Education Code, to authorize the director of the Texas Forest Service (director) to appoint no more than 25, rather than 12, Texas Forest Service employees who are certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education as qualified to be peace officers to serve under the director's direction as peace officers in executing the duties of the Texas Forest Service. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.