83R12990 CJC-F

By: Pickett H.B. No. 3559

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 3105.001, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3105.001. PURPOSE OF MEMORIAL. The Texas Peace Officers' Memorial is a monument erected on the grounds of the Capitol Complex to recognize and honor the ultimate sacrifice made by law enforcement and corrections officers in this state who were killed or died as a result of personal injury sustained in the line of duty.

SECTION 2. Sections 3105.003 and 3105.004, Government Code, are amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3105.003. ELIGIBILITY FOR MEMORIAL. A person is eligible to have the person's name on the memorial if the person was [killed in the line of duty and was]:

(1) a law enforcement officer or peace officer for this state or a political subdivision of this state under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law, and the person's survivors would be entitled to benefits under Chapter 615;

(2) a federal law enforcement officer or special agent performing duties in this state, including those officers under Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, and the person was killed in the line of duty; or

(3) a corrections or detention officer or county or municipal jailer employed or appointed by a municipal, county, or state penal institution in this state, and the person's survivors would be entitled to benefits under Chapter 615.

Sec. 3105.004. MAINTENANCE OF MEMORIAL. (a) The board is responsible for the maintenance of the memorial and shall use money appropriated to the board for that purpose. The board shall:

(1) establish a schedule for the maintenance of the memorial; [and]

(2) select persons to maintain the memorial;[.]

(3) [(b) The commission shall:

[(1)] establish and maintain historical and archival records of the inducted officers and jailers that must be accessible to family members and independent researchers; and

(4) [(2)] adopt rules and establish procedures for adding names to the memorial in accordance with Section 3105.003[; and

[(3) raise money from private or public entities for the continued maintenance and update of the memorial and transfer all the money to the board].

(b) [(c)] The board [commission] may contract with public or private entities to:

(1) facilitate research;

(2) establish and maintain historical and archival records; [and]

(3) store records in a place accessible to the public; and

(4) raise money for the continued maintenance and improvement of the memorial.

(c) [(d)] An entity that collects funds for the maintenance and improvement of the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial shall send that money to the board [commission] to be deposited in the Capitol fund account.

SECTION 3. Section 3105.002(2), Government Code, is repealed.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.