BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1780

By: Dale

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties point to recent legislation that authorized the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to create a reserve officer corps consisting of retired or previously commissioned DPS officers to be called into service at the public safety director's discretion and express concern over the unnecessary exclusion of highly qualified retired peace officers from other law enforcement agencies throughout Texas. H.B. 1780 seeks to address this concern by expanding eligibility for service as part of the reserve officer corps.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1780 amends the Government Code to expand the class of officers for whom the Department of Public Safety (DPS) may establish a reserve officer corps to include any retired or previously commissioned peace officer who retired or resigned in good standing to serve, instead of only retired or previously commissioned DPS officers who retired or so resigned.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.