S.B. 1567 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1567
By: Madla
House Administration
Committee Report (Amended)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, provisions governing the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial are
located in Chapter 1701Z, Occupations Code.  The initial reason for the
creation of the chapter was to establish an advisory committee to design
and build the memorial.  However, the memorial has been completed for a
number of years and the advisory committee has ceased to exist. S.B. 1567
moves the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial to the Government Code and places
it under Title 11 (State Symbols and Honors; Preservation), since the
maintenance of the memorial is part of the Capitol Complex and is under
the supervision of the State Preservation Board.  This bill also removes
outdated language and makes necessary updates. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly
granted to the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education in SECTION 1 (Section 3105.004, Government Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 11A, Government Code, by adding Chapter 3103, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 3105.  TEXAS PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL

Sec. 3105.001.  PURPOSE OF MEMORIAL.  Provides that the Texas Peace
Officers' Memorial is a monument erected on the grounds of the Capitol
Complex to recognize and honor the ultimate sacrifice made by law
enforcement and corrections officers in this state who were killed in the
line of duty. 

Sec. 3105.002.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "board," "commission," and
"memorial." 

Sec. 3105.003.  ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMORIAL.  Provides that a person is
eligible to have the person's name on the memorial if the person was
killed in the line of duty and met certain qualifications. 

Sec. 3105.004.  MAINTENANCE OF MEMORIAL.  (a) Provides that the State
Preservation Board (SPB) is responsible for the maintenance of the
memorial.  Requires SPB to establish a schedule for the maintenance of the
memorial and select persons to maintain the memorial. 

(b) Requires the commission to take certain actions, including adopting
rules and establishing procedures for adding names to the memorial in
accordance with Section 3105.003. 

(c) Authorizes the commission to contract with public or private entities
to facilitate research, establish and maintain historical and archival
records, and store records in a place accessible to the public. 

Sec. 3105.005.  ACCOUNT.  (a) Requires money contributed to the state for
a purpose related to the memorial to be deposited by SPB in the Capitol
fund to the credit of a separate interest-bearing account in the general
revenue fund established for the  memorial. 

(b) Requires income from investment of money in the account to be
deposited to the credit of the account, notwithstanding other law. 

(c) Authorizes money in the account to only be used for the purposes
prescribed by this chapter. 

SECTION 2.  Repealer: Chapter 1701Z, Occupations Code (TEXAS PEACE
OFFICERS' MEMORIAL; ADVISORY COMMITTEE). 

SECTION 3.  Provides that the advisory committee created under Chapter
1701Z, Occupations Code, which is repealed by this Act, is abolished. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. #1
Any fund raising group, public or private, that indicate in their
fund-raising attempt, that the money is being raised for the Texas Peace
Officers Memorial, must deposit the funds raised with the Comptroller
within 30 days of collection. 

Committee Amendment No. #2
This amendment makes federal law enforcement officers or special agents
performing duties in this state, eligible for the Texas Peace Officers
Memorial.