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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a regional center for public |
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safety excellence in the Rio Grande Valley. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 130, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 130.093 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 130.093. REGIONAL CENTER FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXCELLENCE. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law |
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Enforcement ("TCOLE"). |
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(2) "Regional center" means the regional center for |
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public safety excellence established under this section. |
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(b) The regional center for public safety excellence is |
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established to develop and provide education and training for law |
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enforcement personnel in the Rio Grande Valley, including: |
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(1) education and training leading toward an |
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associate of applied science degree or certificate or another |
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public safety or law enforcement-related associate degree or |
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certificate; |
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(2) a baccalaureate degree awarded under a program |
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authorized by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under |
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Section 130.0012; |
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(3) TCOLE officer certification; and |
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(4) a continuing education certification. |
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(c) South Texas College shall administer the regional |
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center in partnership with political subdivisions and |
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participating school districts in the Rio Grande Valley. The |
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headquarters of the regional center are located at South Texas |
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College in Pharr, Texas. The regional center may use property and |
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facilities at other locations in Hidalgo and Starr Counties. |
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(d) In developing its training programs and courses, the |
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regional center shall ensure that the program or course curriculum |
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satisfies any requirements imposed by the commission under |
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Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, for the regional |
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center to operate as a commission-approved training provider under |
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that chapter. |
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(e) The commission may authorize reimbursement for a |
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political subdivision or state agency for expenses incurred in |
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attendance by personnel of the entity at a training program offered |
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by the regional center. |
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(f) The regional center may solicit and accept gifts and |
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grants from any public or private source for purposes of this |
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section. The legislature may appropriate money for purposes of |
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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. |