SRC-MWN H.B. 1121 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1121 By: Turner, Bob (West) Criminal Justice 5/11/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (commission) is required to set minimum standards for a person to enroll in a training program for peace officers and county jailers. The commission currently requires an applicant to be a high school graduate, have passed a general educational development test, or have 12 semester hours credit from an accredited college or university. Requiring all applicants with a high school equivalency certificate to complete 12 semester hours from a college or university prior to enrolling in a peace officer training program will raise the educational level of the peace officer applicant pool. H.B. 1121 prohibits a person from enrolling in a peace officer training program unless the person has received a high school diploma; a high school equivalency certificate and has completed 12 hours of college or university credit with a specified grade point average, or has served in the armed forces for at least two years. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1701.255, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (c), to prohibit a person from enrolling in a peace officer training program unless the person has received a high school diploma; or a high school equivalency certificate, and has completed at least 12 hours at an institution of higher education with at least a 2.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale; or an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States after at least 24 months of active duty service. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001. Makes application of this Act prospective.