79R4129 KEG-D


By:  Rose                                                         H.B. No. 1534


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the appointment of a sheriff, municipal police officer, and firefighter to the Critical Infrastructure Protection Council. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 421.021, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: (a-1) In addition to the members described by Subsection (a), the governor shall appoint a sheriff, municipal police officer, and firefighter who will each serve as a member of the council. The office of the governor shall develop and implement application procedures to assist with the governor's selection of appointees under this section who are capable of representing the interests of law enforcement officers and first responders across this state. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (a-1), to [To] be eligible for appointment as a member of the council, a person must be directly involved in the policies, programs, or funding activities of the appointing agency, office, or division that are relevant to homeland security or infrastructure protection. SECTION 2. As soon as possible after the effective date of this Act: (1) the office of the governor shall develop and implement application procedures for selecting appointees from among the sheriffs, municipal police officers, and firefighters who are interested in serving as members of the Critical Infrastructure Protection Council in accordance with Section 421.021(a-1), Government Code, as added by this Act; and (2) the governor shall make appropriate appointments of the initial sheriff, municipal police officer, and firefighter who will serve on the council under that section. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2005.