BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3430

By: Hunter

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that a county should be able to transfer a law enforcement dog, which may otherwise be classified as salvage or surplus property to be auctioned off for a fee upon retirement, to the dog's current or former handler or to another current or former law enforcement officer for no fee upon the animal's retirement or at another time the dog becomes surplus to the county's needs. H.B. 3430 seeks to provide that authority.

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. 3430 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county, by order or resolution, to transfer a county law enforcement dog that is at the end of the dog's working life or otherwise surplus to the needs of the county to the dog's current or former handler or another current or former law enforcement officer. The bill authorizes such a transfer to be made without charge to the transferee if the transferee agrees to house and otherwise care for the dog and requires the transfer to be made in a manner that is in the best interest of the dog and the county, as determined by the county.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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