HBA-SEB S.B. 264 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 264 By: Duncan Urban Affairs 4/12/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a person joining a law enforcement agency serves a one year probationary period, ending on the first anniversary of the date of hiring the officer. Most police departments now require five months or longer to complete police academy training before a new officer is commissioned, which consumes a considerable amount of time in the probationary period. A probationary period that begins on an officer's date of commission, rather than the date of hire, may benefit an officer who needs further training as well as the citizens of a community. S.B. 264 changes the beginning of the one year probationary period from the date of employment to the date of commission. 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 143.027, Local Government Code, to provide that a person appointed to a beginning position in the police department must serve a probationary period beginning on the date the person is commissioned as a police officer in the employing police department and ending on the first anniversary of that date. Specifies that this section (Probationary Period) does not apply to a city with a population of 1.5 million or more. Redesignates Sections (c)-(d) to (d)-(e). Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.