BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.H.B. 2580
81R32843 KSD-D By: Frost (Deuell)
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Across Texas, law enforcement agencies face manpower shortfalls that affect every aspect of law enforcement. One reason for such shortfalls is that the application process is quite localized as applicants must travel to each location to seek job opportunities and fill out the necessary applications. This situation makes it difficult for candidates to apply for multiple positions at one time and gives the applicant pool little depth.
C.S.H.B. 2580 relates to the establishment of a peace officer employment opportunity Internet website by the Texas Workforce Commission.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, by adding Section 302.016, as follows:
Sec. 302.016. PEACE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INTERNET WEBSITE. (a) Defines "peace officer."
(b) Requires the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC), to develop, maintain, and promote a statewide employment Internet website to facilitate the public awareness of peace officer employment opportunities with state and local enforcement agencies and an exchange of information between individuals seeking employment as peace officers in this state and state and local law enforcement agencies seeking applications for employment as peace officers.
(c) Requires that the Internet website be accessible to members of the public and provide to individuals seeking employment as peace officers and state and local law enforcement agencies that have posted employment opportunities on the website an organized means of exchanging information.
(d) Requires TWC to contract with the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) to develop a license verification interface to verify whether an applicant for employment as a peace officer holds a current license issued by TCLEOSE under Chapter 1701 (Law Enforcement Officers), Occupations Code, and, if so, the level of that license; and has had the applicant's license revoked or suspended by TCLEOSE.
(e) Requires TCLEOSE to provide TWC with technical assistance in the development and testing of the license verification interface under Subsection (d).
(f) Requires TWC, if the development and operation of the Internet website and the associated license verification interface is not possible due to a lack of available funding, to:
(1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with TCLEOSE to integrate a peace officer job matching database for individuals seeking employment as peace officers in this state and state and local law enforcement agencies seeking applicants for employment as peace officers into TWC's existing Labor Exchange System (system); and
(2) ensure that TWC registers an Internet domain name that is unique and that identifies on its face the purpose of the peace officer job matching database and the registered domain name and associated link directs users of the Internet to a web page that instructs users on how to use the system and includes a link to enter that system.
SECTION 2. Provides that this Act does not make an appropriation. Provides that a provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program, creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the provision.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.