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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the appointment of special rangers for the State Board |
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of Veterinary Medical Examiners. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 801.164 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 801.164. SPECIAL RANGERS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement. |
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(2) "Department" means the Department of Public |
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Safety. |
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(b) The director of the department may appoint two special |
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rangers who are employed by the board to assist law enforcement |
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agencies in the investigation of violations of this chapter. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a special ranger |
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appointed under this section may make arrests and exercise all |
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authority given peace officers under the Code of Criminal Procedure |
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when necessary to prevent or abate an offense under this chapter. |
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(d) A special ranger appointed under this section may not |
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issue a traffic citation for a violation of Chapter 521, |
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Transportation Code, or Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation Code. |
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(e) A special ranger appointed under this section is not |
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entitled to state benefits normally provided by the state to an |
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employee that are based on the employee's status as a peace officer. |
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(f) A person may not serve as a special ranger under this |
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section unless: |
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(1) the board submits the person's application for |
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appointment and certification as a special ranger to the director |
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of the department and to the executive director of the commission; |
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(2) the director of the department issues the person a |
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certificate of authority to act as a special ranger; |
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(3) the executive director of the commission: |
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(A) determines that the person meets minimum |
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standards required of peace officers by the commission relating to |
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competence, reliability, education, training, morality, and |
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physical and mental health; and |
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(B) issues the person a license as a special |
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ranger; and |
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(4) the person has met all standards for certification |
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as a peace officer by the commission. |
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(g) For good cause, the director of the department may |
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revoke a certificate of authority issued under this section and the |
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executive director of the commission may revoke a license issued |
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under this section. Termination of employment with the board, or |
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the revocation of a special ranger license, is grounds for the |
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automatic revocation of a certificate of authority to act as a |
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special ranger. |
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(h) All expenses incurred by the granting or revocation of a |
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certificate of authority to act as a special ranger under this |
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section shall be paid by the board. |
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(i) The director of the department and the executive |
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director of the commission may adopt rules necessary for the |
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effective administration and performance of the duties and |
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responsibilities delegated to the director and executive director |
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by this section. |
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SECTION 2. 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, 2015. |