BILL ANALYSIS
By: Driver
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Under current law, deputy constables are required to complete continuing education in two consecutive 24-month training cycles that begin on September 1 of odd numbered years. Constables are required to complete 40 hours of continuing education within a 48-month period, beginning on the first anniversary after a constable's completion of the initial training required by law. The result is that the dates of the 48-month continuing education training period are not uniform among constables and do not necessarily coincide with training cycles for deputy constables.
As proposed, H.B. 487 requires Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education to establish a uniform 48 month continuing education training period for constables that begins on the first day of the first uniform continuing education training period that follows the date that the individual completed the initial training period.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education in Sections 1 and 2 of this bill.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 487 amends Occupations Code Section 1701 by requiring the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education by rule to establish a uniform 48-month continuing education training period for constables. The uniform 48-month continuing education training period begins on the first day of the first uniform continuing education training period that follows the date that an individual completed the initial training program. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education is required by rule to provide an orderly transition for constables to a uniform continuing education period.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.