BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2870

By: King, Phil

Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Firearms proficiency is extremely important for the safety and well-being of peace officers as well as the public being protected.  Currently, state law requires a law enforcement agency that employs two or more peace officers to appoint one of the officers as a firearms proficiency officer and each officer to annually demonstrate weapons proficiency to the firearms proficiency officer.

H.B. 2870 reduces from two to one the minimum number of peace officers employed by an agency that subjects the agency to the requirement regarding the designation of a firearms proficiency officer and the demonstration of weapons proficiency to the firearms proficiency officer by those peace officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2870 amends the Occupations Code to require an agency that employs one or more, rather than at least two, peace officers to designate a firearms proficiency officer and require each peace officer the agency employs to demonstrate weapons proficiency to the firearms proficiency officer at least annually.  The bill requires a law enforcement agency affected by the bill's provisions to designate a firearms proficiency officer not later than March 1, 2010 and clarifies that a state or local governmental entity that employs one or more peace officers is a law enforcement agency for purposes of continuing demonstration of weapons proficiency.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.