BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

S.B. 686

By: Huffman

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

In the 47 years since it was created the role of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) has dramatically evolved, through legislative direction, from a training-only role to include regulatory authority. The need to re-brand the agency has become apparent to address confusion about the agency’s role and clarify the agency’s mission. The proposed name change from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) to simply the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), makes the agency name consistent with other regulatory agencies that do similar work in other venues.

 

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

 

S.B. 686 amends the Occupations Code, effective January 1, 2014, to rename the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) as the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and to establish that a reference in law to the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education or the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education means the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The bill requires TCLEOSE to adopt a schedule for phasing in the change of the agency's name so as to minimize the fiscal impact of the name change.

 

S.B. 686 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure, Education Code, Election Code, Government Code, Health and Safety Code, Human Resources Code, Labor Code, Local Government Code, Parks and Wildlife Code, Penal Code, and Transportation Code to make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2013.