By Marchant                                           H.B. No. 2499
         77R5039 KSD-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to limitations on the setting of education standards for
 1-3     law enforcement officers by the Commission on Law Enforcement
 1-4     Officer Standards and Education.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
 1-7     amended by adding Section 1701.3075 to read as follows:
 1-8           Sec. 1701.3075.  DEGREE REQUIREMENT PROHIBITED.  The
 1-9     commission may not:
1-10                 (1)  require a person seeking licensure under this
1-11     chapter to hold a bachelor's degree as a condition for obtaining a
1-12     license; or
1-13                 (2)  require a law enforcement agency or governmental
1-14     entity to hire only peace officers who hold bachelor's degrees.
1-15           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect  immediately if it receives
1-16     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-17     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-18     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-19     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.