SRC-DPW S.B. 734 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 734
By: Armbrister
Criminal Justice
6/28/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law limits the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) to
commissioning and employing no more than five commissioned peace officers
at any one time.  Because of expanded responsibilities under the Medicaid
fraud program over the years, increased demand for assistance to the
prosecutors' assistance division, and an increased number of investigations
by internal security and investigations of theft of state property, OAG has
not been able to perform statutory responsibilities with only five
commissioned peace officers.  This bill removes the cap on the number of
commissioned peace officers that OAG is permitted to commission and employ,
while leaving in place the statutory limitations on the purposes for which
such officers may be used. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 734 removes the limitation on the number of peace
officers the Office of the Attorney General may commission and employ. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 402.009, Government Code, to delete a provision
limiting the number of peace officers the attorney general may employ and
commission to five at any one time. 

SECTION 2. Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.