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.