BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1083

By: Elkins

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

When a peace officer retires, the head of a state or local law enforcement agency submits a form to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education indicating the officer's standing from among three options: general discharge, honorably discharged, or dishonorably discharged.  A recent legislature enacted legislation amending the Occupations Code to require the head of a law enforcement agency to issue to an honorably retired peace officer on the officer's request, an identification card indicating the officer's status as an honorably retired officer.   H.B. 1083 conforms Government Code provisions to the Occupations Code provisions relating to an identification card for an honorably retired peace officer who holds a certificate of proficiency.     

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. 1083 amends Section 614.124(a), Government Code, as added by Chapter 938 (H.B. 3613), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, to require, rather than authorize, the law enforcement agency or other governmental entity that was the last entity to appoint or employ an honorably retired peace officer to issue an identification card to the officer and to make that requirement contingent on the request of the officer. The bill specifies that the requirement applies to an honorably retired peace officer who holds a certificate of weapons proficiency issued by a state or local law enforcement agency under the Occupations Code. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.