By:  Talton (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire)                           H.B. No. 2457
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 18, 2005; 
April 19, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Intergovernmental Relations; May 12, 2005, reported favorably by 
the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 12, 2005, sent to 
printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the entrance requirements, base pay, and longevity pay in certain municipalities for a police officer who has previous experience as a police officer. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 143, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 143.1055 to read as follows: Sec. 143.1055. APPLICANT FOR BEGINNING POSITION IN POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE. Notwithstanding any other requirement of this chapter, for any applicant for a beginning position in the police department who has previous experience as a police officer with another police department, the police department may: (1) modify the police officer training academy requirements for the applicant; and (2) allow the applicant to take the entrance examination before completing the academy training. SECTION 2. Section 143.110, Local Government Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (a) Except as provided by Subsection (c) and Section 143.111, all fire fighters or police officers in the same classification are entitled to the same base salary. (c) In computing longevity pay and base pay under this section for a police officer who has completed the department's academy training requirements, the police department may include the number of years, not to exceed five, that the police officer served in another police department. 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.
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