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.