BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1545
85R7526 TSR-D	By: Clardy (Nichols)
	Criminal Justice
	5/18/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

In many high schools across the State of Texas, students have access to endorsed courses that directly relate to the field of law enforcement. H.B. 1545 would help assist students who are seeking a career in law enforcement by requiring the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to establish a procedure under which credit hours earned for the successful completion of these high school courses could be counted towards the hours of training required of an applicant for a peace officer license.

Students must submit an application, as well as a high school transcript to TCOLE that indicates the applicant has earned credits toward the peace officer license. Although students are unable to take the state board examination for peace officers and receive their license until they are 21 years old, the law enforcement endorsement helps to provide students encouragement and helps them move a step closer to a career in law enforcement.

H.B. 1545 amends current law relating to the acceptance of certain high school courses to satisfy part of the training required to obtain a peace officer license.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in SECTION 1 (Section 1701.1525, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, by adding Section 1701.1525, as follows:

Sec. 1701.1525. RULES RELATED TO ACCEPTANCE OF CREDIT HOURS FOR COMPLETION OF CERTAIN HIGH SCHOOL COURSES. (a) Requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to adopt rules that establish a procedure under which credit hours earned for the successful completion of high school courses that directly relate to law enforcement can be counted toward the hours of training required of an applicant for a peace officer license issued under Section 1701.307 (Issuance of Officer or County Jailer License).

(b) Requires that the rules adopted under this section require that an applicant submit to TCOLE a high school transcript that indicates the applicant earned an endorsement in the public services category, as described by Section 28.025(c-1) (relating to a student earning an endorsement on the student's transcript by successfully completing curriculum requirements for that endorsement adopted by the State Board of Education by rule), Education Code.

SECTION 2. (a) Requires that TOCLE, not later than December 1, 2017, adopt rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.1525, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.