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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the employment and licensing of border security |
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officers employed by the Department of Public Safety; making an |
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appropriation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.02091 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.02091. BORDER SECURITY OFFICERS. (a) The |
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department may employ as a border security officer to assist |
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department efforts along the Texas-Mexico border an individual who: |
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(1) has served in the United States armed forces and |
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received either: |
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(A) an honorable discharge; or |
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(B) a dishonorable discharge because the |
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individual refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and |
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(2) holds a border security officer license issued by |
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the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. |
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(b) The department shall develop for border security |
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officers a training program that complies with the requirements of |
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Subchapter P, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter P to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER P. BORDER SECURITY OFFICERS |
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Sec. 1701.751. BORDER SECURITY OFFICER LICENSE. (a) The |
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commission shall adopt rules establishing a border security officer |
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license for border security officers of the Department of Public |
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Safety. |
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(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must provide for |
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an application process for a border security officer license that |
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is similar to the application process for a peace officer license. |
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Sec. 1701.752. ELIGIBILITY. A border security officer |
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license may be issued only to an individual who: |
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(1) served in the United States armed forces and |
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received either: |
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(A) an honorable discharge; or |
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(B) a dishonorable discharge because the |
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individual refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and |
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(2) satisfies the eligibility requirements |
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established by commission rule. |
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Sec. 1701.753. REQUIRED TRAINING. The commission, in |
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consultation with the Department of Public Safety, shall establish |
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training requirements for border security officers. |
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Sec. 1701.754. AUTHORITY OF BORDER SECURITY OFFICER. (a) |
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An individual who holds a border security officer license has the |
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same authority as a peace officer except as otherwise provided by |
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commission rule. |
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(b) The commission, in consultation with the Department of |
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Public Safety, shall adopt rules to implement this section. |
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SECTION 3. The amount of $1 billion is appropriated from the |
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general revenue fund to the Department of Public Safety of the State |
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of Texas for the purpose of providing salaries to border security |
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officers employed by the department during the two-year period |
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beginning on the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |