BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2883

By: Muñoz, Jr.

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Border safety and security training is paramount for a strong and safe Texas. Interested parties report that certain border counties are in need of new facilities to appropriately train current and future law enforcement officers because Texas law enforcement occupations, including police and sheriff's officers, detectives, and criminal investigators, will reportedly face a 20 percent increase in demand over the next decade. Therefore, it has been estimated that approximately 2,000 new law enforcement positions will be required in the South Texas region, and these new law enforcement personnel must be adequately trained in order to keep Texas safe and secure.  To assist South Texas in meeting the region's growing need for well-trained law enforcement officials and raise the level of professionalism in the law enforcement community, H.B. 2883 seeks to establish a regional center for public safety excellence located in Pharr, Texas, for the provision of initial and continuing education and training leading toward an associate of applied science degree and basic peace officer certification for law enforcement personnel in the Rio Grande Valley.

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. 2883 amends the Education Code to establish the regional center for public safety excellence to develop and provide initial and continuing education and training, including education and training leading toward an associate of applied science degree and basic peace officer certification, for law enforcement personnel in the Rio Grande Valley. The bill requires South Texas College to administer the regional center in partnership with political subdivisions and participating school districts in the Rio Grande Valley, establishes the headquarters of the regional center at South Texas College in Pharr, Texas, and authorizes the regional center to use property and facilities at other locations in Hidalgo County. The bill requires the regional center, in developing its training programs and courses, to ensure that the program or course curriculum satisfies any requirements imposed by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) on law enforcement officer training programs and schools for the regional center to operate as a TCLEOSE-approved training provider.

H.B. 2883 authorizes TCLEOSE to authorize reimbursement for a political subdivision or state agency for expenses incurred in attendance by personnel of the entity at a training program offered by the regional center, authorizes the regional center to solicit and accept gifts and grants from any public or private source for purposes of the bill's provisions, and authorizes the legislature to appropriate money for such purposes.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.