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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1561

By: Gervin-Hawkins

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Currently, more than half of all San Antonio police officers live outside of the city. Local leaders have suggested that having more residents as officers in the police department would help build and improve trust in the department and its officers among the residents they serve. Additionally, incentivizing applicants from the local community would strengthen the department's ability to hire officers who are invested in the well-being of the community. H.B. 1561 seeks to provide for this incentive by requiring an additional five points to be added to the entrance examination grade of certain resident applicants for a beginning position in a fire or police department in certain municipalities.

 

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. 1561 amends the Local Government Code to require an additional five points to be added to the entrance examination grade of an applicant for a beginning position in a fire or police department in a municipality with a population of more than 1.3 million and less than 2 million that has adopted the fire fighters' and police officers' civil service law if the applicant meets the following qualifications:

·         the applicant is a resident of the municipality in which the applicant seeks employment;

·         the applicant has resided in the municipality continuously for at least one year before taking the examination; and

·         the applicant receives a passing grade on the examination.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2021.