By: Anchía H.B. No. 3177

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the peace officer status of designated investigators of a municipal office of inspector general.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 2A, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Art. 2A.001. (34) to read as follows:

Art. 2A.001. PEACE OFFICERS GENERALLY. The following are peace officers:

(1) a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(2) a constable, a deputy constable, or a reserve deputy constable who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(3) a marshal or police officer of a municipality or a reserve municipal police officer who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(4) a ranger, officer, or member of the reserve officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the director of the Department of Public Safety;

(5) an investigator of a district attorney's, criminal district attorney's, or county attorney's office;

(6) a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;

(7) a member of an arson investigating unit commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;

(8) an officer commissioned under Section 37.081, Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;

(9) an officer commissioned by the Texas Facilities Commission;

(10) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Commission;

(11) an officer commissioned under Chapter 23, Transportation Code;

(12) a municipal park and recreational patrol officer or security officer;

(13) a security officer or investigator commissioned as a peace officer by the comptroller;

(14) an officer commissioned by a water control and improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;

(15) an officer commissioned by a board of trustees under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;

(16) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Medical Board;

(17) an officer commissioned by:

(A) the board of managers of the Dallas County Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;

(B) the board of directors of the Ector County Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local Laws Code;

(C) the board of directors of the Midland County Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121, Special District Local Laws Code; or

(D) the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section 1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;

(18) a county park ranger commissioned under Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;

(19) an investigator employed by the Texas Racing Commission;

(20) an officer commissioned under Chapter 554, Occupations Code;

(21) an officer commissioned by the governing body of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, Transportation Code, or a regional transportation authority under Section 452.110, Transportation Code;

(22) an investigator commissioned by the attorney general under Section 402.009, Government Code;

(23) a security officer or investigator commissioned as a peace officer under Chapter 466, Government Code;

(24) an officer appointed by an appellate court under Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;

(25) an officer commissioned by the state fire marshal under Chapter 417, Government Code;

(26) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;

(27) an apprehension specialist or inspector general commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as an officer under Section 242.102 or 243.052, Human Resources Code;

(28) an officer appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, Government Code;

(29) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations Code;

(30) a fire marshal or any related officer, inspector, or investigator commissioned by a county under Subchapter B, Chapter 352, Local Government Code;

(31) a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or investigator commissioned by an emergency services district under Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;

(32) an officer commissioned by the State Board of Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section; and

(33) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as an officer under Section 221.011, Human Resources Code; and

(34) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement designated by the inspector general for the City of Dallas.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 18B, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended by adding Art. 18B.001. (L) to read as follows:

Art. 18B.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Authorized peace officer" means:

(A) a sheriff or deputy sheriff;

(B) a constable or deputy constable;

(C) a marshal or police officer of a municipality;

(D) a ranger or officer commissioned by the Public Safety Commission or the director of the department;

(E) an investigator of a prosecutor's office;

(F) a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission;

(G) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the Parks and Wildlife Commission;

(H) an enforcement officer appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019, Government Code;

(I) a law enforcement officer appointed by the inspector general of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department under Section 242.102, Human Resources Code;

(J) an investigator commissioned by the attorney general under Section 402.009, Government Code;

(K) a member of an arson investigating unit commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state; or

(K) a peace officer commissioned under Section 37.081 or 51.203, Education Code; or

(L) an investigator appointed by the inspector general for the City of Dallas.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.