BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1157

By: Vo

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been reported that some cities in Texas are experiencing shortages of peace officers. At the same time, it has been noted that additional routes to civilian employment are needed to help reduce the numbers of unemployed veterans. H.B. 1157 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. 1157 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a political subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers to commission and employ in that capacity a legal permanent U.S. resident who is an honorably discharged U.S. armed forces veteran. 

H.B. 1157 amends the Occupations Code to require the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) to issue a peace officer license to such a legal permanent resident if the person meets the applicable requirements under state law and TCOLE rules. The bill requires TCOLE to amend rules as necessary to comply with this requirement.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.