By:  Wentworth                                        S.B. No. 1278
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                       AN ACT
 1-1     relating to the use of leave by a state employee who is a reserve
 1-2     peace officer to attend peace officer training.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 661, Government Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Section 661.152 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 661.152.  LEAVE FOR RESERVE PEACE OFFICERS.  (a)  This
 1-7     section applies only to a state employee who serves as a reserve
 1-8     peace officer.
 1-9           (b)  A person to whom this section applies is entitled to an
1-10     administrative leave of absence from work as a state employee
1-11     without loss of compensation or risk of termination for the hours
1-12     during which the employee receives necessary peace officer
1-13     training.  The amount of administrative leave taken under this
1-14     section may not exceed 80 hours in a state fiscal year.
1-15           (c)  An employee shall give reasonable advance notice of the
1-16     employee's intention to use the administrative leave to attend
1-17     necessary peace officer training.
1-18           (d)  The state agency that employs a person who requests
1-19     administrative leave under this section shall verify the person's
1-20     eligibility to take the leave.