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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

S.B. 1397

By: Flores

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

It has been suggested that some veteran peace officers might find existing continuing education and training requirements to be overly burdensome and irrelevant to their current role in the law enforcement community, particularly for those who no longer interact with the public. Recognizing that fact, S.B. 1397 seeks to exempt certain honorably retired peace officers from those requirements.

 

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

 

S.B. 1397 amends the Occupations Code to expand the scope of the exemptions from certain continuing education and training requirements for an honorably retired commissioned officer of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) who is appointed by the Public Safety Commission as a special ranger. The bill extends those exemptions to the following persons:

·         an honorably retired commissioned DPS officer who is appointed by the commission as a special Texas Ranger;

·         an honorably retired commissioned officer of the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) who is commissioned by the executive director of TPWD as a special game warden; and

·         an honorably retired commissioned officer of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) who is appointed by TABC or by the TABC administrator as a special inspector or representative.

 

S.B. 1397 extends also to those persons the following:

·         the same rights and privileges as any other peace officer in Texas;

·         the status of having an active license unless revoked, suspended, or probated by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement for certain violations of state law; and

·         the exemption from provisions requiring each peace officer to complete at least 40 hours of continuing education programs once every 24 months.

 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

August 26, 2019.