BILL ANALYSIS |
S.B. 1303 |
By: Seliger |
Public Safety |
Committee Report (Unamended) |
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Weapons proficiency is extremely important for the safety and well-being of a peace officer, as well as for the public the peace officer is protecting.
Currently, state law requires a law enforcement agency that employs two or more peace officers to appoint one of the officers a firearms proficiency officer, and each officer must annually demonstrate firearms proficiency to the weapons proficiency officer.
S.B. 1303 requires an agency that employs one or more peace officers to designate a firearms proficiency officer and requires each peace officer the agency employs to demonstrate weapons proficiency to the firearms proficiency officer at least annually.
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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.
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ANALYSIS
S.B. 1303 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 to 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.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2009. |