Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB579 by Giddings (Relating to animal encounter training for peace officers.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to establish an animal encounter training program for law enforcement officers by January 1, 2016. The training program would emphasize canine handling with non-lethal methods. The commission would be required to review and update the training program as necessary at least once every three years. Officers would be required to complete the course not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under the Occupations Code or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency certificate, whichever occurs first. All law enforcement officers would be required to complete the course by September 1, 2017.
The Department of Public Safety and the Commission on Law Enforcement have indicated no significant fiscal impact to those agencies would result from the implementing the provisions of the bill.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated. Harris County reported training costs of $468,000 for the Sherriff's Department, $252,540 for Constables and Constable Reserves, and $9,000 for Fire Marshalls for a total cost of 729,540.
Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety, 407 Commission on Law Enforcement