BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1091

By: Vo

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that some Texas cities are experiencing shortages of peace officers. At the same time, it has been noted that more routes to civilian employment are needed to help reduce the numbers of unemployed veterans. H.B. 1091 seeks to provide a solution to both problems by making honorably discharged veterans who are permanent U.S. residents eligible for employment as peace officers.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in SECTION 3 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1091 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a political subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers to commission and employ as such a legal permanent resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces.

H.B. 1091 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to issue a peace officer license to a person who is a legal permanent resident of the United States if the person meets applicable statutory and TCOLE rule requirements and is an honorably discharged veteran of the U.S. armed forces. The bill requires TCOLE to amend rules as necessary to comply with this requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.