BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3647
85R20117 AAF-F	By: Dale et al. (Watson)
	Criminal Justice
	5/5/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Under current law, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) determines which names are eligible to be added to the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Monument. The statute merely states that officers employed by certain public safety offices are eligible if they were "killed in the line of duty" with no further clarification.

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Because of this ambiguity, TCOLE has had a significant amount of discretion in deciding which names to include on the monument. This has created controversy within the law enforcement community, particularly when TCOLE declines to include a fallen officer's name.

H.B. 3647 brings more clarity and certainty to this issue, which is of course very important to the families and coworkers of fallen officers. Specifically, H.B. 3647 provides that an officer is presumed to have been killed in the line of duty if the Employees Retirement System awards survivor benefits to the officer's family. These benefits are only available for the loss of life as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

H.B. 3647 also creates a process for TCOLE to accept and make decisions on nominations for the monument, even for officers who do not qualify for survivor benefits. Finally, H.B. 3647 also requires TCOLE to establish a recordkeeping system for the monument that is accessible to family members and independent researchers.

Taken together, these changes should bring more consistency and transparency to the governance of the Texas Peace Officers Memorial Monument.

H.B. 3647 amends current law relating to the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial Monument.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement is modified in SECTION 3 (Section 3105.004, Government Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 3105.003, Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 3105.003. ELIGIBILITY FOR MONUMENT. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes to this subsection.

(b) Provides that a person described by Subsection (a) is presumed to have been killed in the line of duty if the Employees Retirement System of Texas makes payments and provides benefits to the eligible survivors of the person as provided by Chapter 615 (Financial Assistance to Survivors of Certain Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Fighters, and Others).

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 3105, Government Code, by adding Section 3105.0035, as follows:

Sec. 3105.0035. NOMINATIONS; ADDITION OF NAMES TO MONUMENT. (a) Authorizes a peace officer, law enforcement agency, independent researcher, or organization that advocates on behalf of the survivors of persons described by Section 3105.003 to submit to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) a nomination to have a person's name added to the monument.

(b) Requires the executive director of TCOLE to make a preliminary recommendation to TCOLE on whether a person nominated under Subsection (a) is eligible under Section 3105.003.

(c) Requires TCOLE to place each nomination, including the executive director's preliminary recommendation, on the agenda of a scheduled meeting of TCOLE for consideration by TCOLE. Requires TCOLE to allow public testimony and consider any evidence presented regarding the eligibility of the person nominated. Requires TCLE, after hearing testimony and considering evidence, to determine by a public vote whether the person meets the eligibility requirements under Section 3105.003.

(d) Requires TCOLE to add a person's name to the monument if TCOLE determines that the person meets the eligibility requirements.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 3105.004(b), Government Code, to require TCOLE to adopt rules and establish procedures for adding names to the monument in accordance with Sections 3105.003 and 3105.0035, rather than Section 3105.003.

SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.