BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1099

By: Guillen

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There are concerns that veterinary medical examiners' offices may be easily targeted for drug theft. It is noted, in light of these concerns, that granting the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) the authority to employ and commission peace officers to serve as investigators would allow a better exchange of information with state and federal law enforcement agencies during investigations of such crimes. H.B. 1099 seeks to provide that authority to the TBVME.

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 this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1099 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) to employ and commission as a peace officer to enforce the Veterinary Licensing Act a person who has been certified as qualified to be a peace officer by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The bill requires the TBVME, if it commissions peace officers for that purpose, to designate a peace officer as the chief investigator to supervise and direct the other TBVME-commissioned peace officers and requires the chief investigator to have appropriate training and experience in law enforcement, as determined by the TBVME.

H.B. 1099 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make a conforming change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.