Amend CSHB 2359 as follows:
(1) Add new SECTION 7 to read as follows and renumber the
subsequent sections appropriately:
"SECTION 7. Section 615.003, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 615.003. APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to
eligible survivors of the following individuals:
(1) an individual elected, appointed, or employed as
a peace officer by the state or a political subdivision of the state
under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law;
(2) a paid probation officer appointed by the
director of a community supervision and corrections department who
has the duties set out in Section 76.002 and the qualifications set
out in Section 76.005, or who was appointed in accordance with prior
law;
(3) a parole officer employed by the pardons and
paroles division of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who
has the duties set out in Section 508.001 and the qualifications set
out in Section 508.113 or in prior law;
(4) a paid jailer;
(5) a member of an organized police reserve or
auxiliary unit who regularly assists peace officers in enforcing
criminal laws;
(6) a member of the class of employees of the
institutional division or the state jail division of the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice formally designated as custodial
personnel under Section 615.006 by the Texas Board of Criminal
Justice or its predecessor in function;
(7) a jailer or guard of a county jail who is
appointed by the sheriff and who:
(A) performs a security, custodial, or
supervisory function over the admittance, confinement, or
discharge of prisoners; and
(B) is certified by the Commission on Law
Enforcement Officer Standards and Education;
(8) a juvenile correctional employee of the Texas
Youth Commission;
(9) an employee of the Texas Department of Mental
Health and Mental Retardation who:
(A) works at the department's maximum security
unit; or
(B) performs on-site services for the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice;
(10) an individual who is employed by the state or a
political or legal subdivision and is subject to certification by
the Texas Commission on Fire Protection;
(11) an individual employed by the state or a
political or legal subdivision whose principal duties are aircraft
crash and rescue fire fighting;
(12) a member of an organized volunteer fire-fighting
unit that:
(A) renders fire-fighting services without
remuneration; and
(B) [consists of not fewer than 20 active
members, a majority of whom are present at each meeting; and
[(C)] conducts a minimum of two drills each
month, each two hours long; or
(13) an individual who:
(A) performs emergency medical services or
operates an ambulance;
(B) is employed by a political subdivision of
the state or is an emergency medical services volunteer as defined
by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code; and
(C) is qualified as an emergency care attendant
or at a higher level of training under Section 773.046, 773.047,
773.048, 773.049, or 773.0495, Health and Safety Code."
(2) Amend SECTION 42 by adding subsection (e) to read as
follows:
"(e) The change in law made by this Act to Section 615.003,
Government Code, relating to the death of a member of an organized
volunteer fire-fighting unit applies only in relation to a death
that occurs on or after the effective date of this Act. Matters
regarding eligibility, payment, and benefits under Chapter 615,
Government Code, in relation to a death that occurs before the
effective date of this Act are governed by the law in effect when
the death occurs, and the former law is continued in effect for that
purpose."