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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the qualifications of juvenile probation officers in |
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certain counties. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 141.061(a) and (b), Human Resources |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To be eligible for appointment as a probation officer, a |
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person who was not employed as a probation officer before September |
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1, 1981, must: |
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(1) be of good moral character; |
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(2) have acquired a bachelor's degree conferred by a |
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college or university accredited by an accrediting organization |
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recognized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; |
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(3) have either: |
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(A) one year of graduate study in criminology, |
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corrections, counseling, law, social work, psychology, sociology, |
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or other field of instruction approved by the commission; or |
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(B) except as provided by Section 141.0612(c), |
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one year of experience in full-time case work, counseling, or |
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community or group work: |
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(i) in a social service, community, |
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corrections, or juvenile agency that deals with offenders or |
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disadvantaged persons; and |
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(ii) that the commission determines |
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provides the kind of experience necessary to meet this requirement; |
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(4) have satisfactorily completed the course of |
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preservice training or instruction required by the commission; |
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(5) have passed the tests or examinations required by |
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the commission; and |
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(6) possess the level of certification required by the |
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commission. |
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(b) The commission by rule may authorize the waiver of the |
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requirement of a year of graduate study or full-time employment |
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experience under Subsection (a)(3) and Section 141.0612(c), if |
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applicable, if the authority responsible for employing the officer |
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establishes to the satisfaction of the commission that after a |
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diligent search the authority cannot locate a person meeting that |
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requirement to fill a job opening. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 141, Human Resources Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 141.0612 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 141.0612. MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR PROBATION OFFICERS IN |
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COUNTIES WITH POPULATION OF 50,000 OR LESS. (a) This section |
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applies only to an authority that employs a probation officer in a |
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county with a population of 50,000 or less. |
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(b) The commission by rule may authorize the waiver of the |
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requirement of a bachelor's degree under Section 141.061(a)(2) if |
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the authority responsible for employing a probation officer |
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establishes to the satisfaction of the commission that after a |
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diligent search the authority cannot locate a person meeting that |
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requirement to fill the job opening. A person may not be appointed |
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as a probation officer if the person does not have a bachelor's |
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degree and does not have the required experience under Subsection |
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(c) and Section 141.061(a)(3)(B), even if the commission has |
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authorized waivers under both this section and Section 141.061(b). |
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(c) A person who does not have the experience described by |
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Section 141.061(a)(3)(B) may substitute one year of experience in |
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full-time case work, counseling, or community group work: |
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(1) in a juvenile facility or as a peace officer with |
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occasional involvement with juveniles; and |
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(2) that the commission determines provides the kind |
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of experience necessary to meet this requirement. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |