BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 292
86R2157 JCG-F	By: Thompson, Senfronia et al. (Huffman)
	State Affairs
	5/15/2019
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires all peace officers to undergo a basic education program on human trafficking "within a reasonable time after obtaining the license." This means that human trafficking prevention training cannot be taught during a law enforcement academy�only after a peace officer becomes licensed.

 

H.B. 292 instead allows peace officers to complete training "not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter," which would allows the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement to make human trafficking training part of a peace officer academy training curriculum.

 

H.B. 292 amends current law relating to inclusion of instruction on the trafficking of persons in the basic training curriculum for peace officers.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) is modified in SECTION 2 (Section 1701.258, Occupations Code) of this bill.

 

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to TCOLE in SECTION 3 of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (p), as follows:

 

(p) Requires the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), as part of the minimum curriculum requirements, to require an officer to complete the basic education and training program on the trafficking of persons developed under Section 1701.258(a). Requires an officer to complete the program not later than the second anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter (Law Enforcement Officers) unless the officer completes the program as part of the officer�s basic training course.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1701.258(a), Occupations Code, to require TCOLE by rule to require an officer to complete, rather than requiring TCOLE by rule to require an officer first licensed by TCOLE on or after January 1, 2011, to complete, within a reasonable time after obtaining the license, a one-time basic education and training program on the trafficking of persons.

 

SECTION 3. Requires TCOLE, not later than December 1, 2019, to adopt the rules necessary to implement Section 1701.253(p), Occupations Code, as added by this Act, and Section 1701.258(a), Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.

 

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.