BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 971
86R6781 JCG-D	By: Clardy; Minjarez (Zaffirini)
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	5/2/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Peace officers and law enforcement officers who have served in the military have a wealth of knowledge and skills. Under current law, this experience is not counted toward proficiency certifications. This forces experienced officers to complete training that essentially is remedial.

H.B. 971 would direct the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to adopt rules allowing these officers to receive credit for their military service toward meeting any training hours required for an intermediate, advanced, or mastery proficiency certificate.

H.B. 971 amends current law relating to proficiency certification of law enforcement officers with military service.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enfrocement in SECTION 1 (Section 1701.402, Occupations Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 1701.402, Occupations Code, by adding Subsection (o) to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to adopt rules to allow an officer who has served in the military to receive credit toward meeting any training hours required for an intermediate, advanced, or master proficiency certificate based on that military service.

SECTION 2. Requires TCOLE, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, to adopt rules necessary to implement Section 1701.402(o), Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.