By Palmer H.B. No. 2009
76R5689 SMJ-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the qualifications for service as constable.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 86.0021, Local Government Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 86.0021. QUALIFICATIONS. A person is not eligible to
1-7 serve as constable unless the person:
1-8 (1) has a high school diploma or a high school
1-9 equivalency certificate; and
1-10 (2) is licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 415
1-11 [is eligible to be licensed under Sections 415.058 and 415.059],
1-12 Government Code.
1-13 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
1-14 to a person elected or appointed to the office of constable on or
1-15 after the effective date of this Act. A person elected or
1-16 appointed to the office of constable before the effective date of
1-17 this Act is governed, for the remainder of the term the person
1-18 serves as constable, by the law relating to qualifications in
1-19 effect when the person was appointed or elected, and the former law
1-20 is continued in effect for that purpose.
1-21 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-22 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-23 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-24 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-3 passage, and it is so enacted.