1-1 By: Staples, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Nixon) H.B. No. 722
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 1999;
1-3 April 27, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Natural Resources; May 14, 1999, reported favorably by the
1-5 following vote: Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 14, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the number of certified peace officers employed by the
1-9 Texas Forest Service.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Section 88.103, Education Code, is amended to
1-12 read as follows:
1-13 Sec. 88.103. ENFORCEMENT; APPOINTMENT OF PEACE OFFICERS.
1-14 The director may appoint not to exceed 25 [12] employees of the
1-15 Texas Forest Service who are certified by the Commission on Law
1-16 Enforcement Officer Standards and Education as qualified to be
1-17 peace officers to serve as peace officers under his direction in
1-18 executing the enforcement duties of that agency. The appointments
1-19 must be approved by the board which shall commission the appointees
1-20 as peace officers. Any officer commissioned under this section is
1-21 vested with all the powers, privileges, and immunities of peace
1-22 officers in the performance of his duties. The officer shall take
1-23 the oath required of peace officers and shall execute a good and
1-24 sufficient bond in the sum of $5,000, payable to the governor and
1-25 his successors in office, with two or more good and sufficient
1-26 personal sureties or with one corporate surety authorized to do
1-27 business in Texas, conditioned that he will fairly, impartially,
1-28 and faithfully perform all the duties that may be required of him
1-29 by law. The bond may be sued on in the name of any person injured
1-30 until the whole amount of the bond is recovered.
1-31 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the
1-32 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-33 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-34 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-35 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-36 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-37 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-38 * * * * *