Amend HB 1552 (senate committee report) by adding the following appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill and renumbering the SECTIONS of the bill accordingly:
SECTION ____. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.2561 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.2561. FIREARMS TRAINING FOR COUNTY JAILERS. (a) The commission shall develop a basic training program in the use of firearms by county jailers. The program must provide instruction in:
(1) legal limitations on the use of firearms and on the powers and authority of jailers;
(2) range firing and procedure;
(3) firearms safety and maintenance; and
(4) other topics determined by the commission to be necessary for the responsible use of firearms by jailers.
(b) The commission shall administer the training program and shall issue a certificate of firearms proficiency to each county jailer the commission determines has successfully completed the program.
(c) A county jailer who is issued a certificate of firearms proficiency and who maintains weapons proficiency in accordance with Section 1701.355 may carry a firearm:
(1) during the course of performing duties as a county jailer, including while transporting persons confined in the county jail; and
(2) while traveling to or from the jailer's place of assignment.
SECTION ____. Section 1701.355, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as follows:
(a-1) An agency that employs one or more county jailers who have been issued a certificate of firearms proficiency under Section 1701.2561 shall designate a firearms proficiency officer and require the jailers to demonstrate weapons proficiency to the firearms proficiency officer at least annually. The agency shall maintain records of the weapons proficiency of the agency's jailers. A county jailer's failure to demonstrate weapons proficiency does not affect the county jailer's license under this chapter.
(b) On request, the commission may waive the requirement that a peace officer or county jailer demonstrate weapons proficiency on a determination by the commission that the requirement causes a hardship.