79R8059 KEG-D

By:  Whitmire                                                     S.B. No. 1601



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the entrance requirements 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 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  In computing longevity pay under Subsection (b), the 
police department may include the number of years, not to exceed 
five, that a 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.