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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a law enforcement academy in Eagle |
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Pass. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F-1. EAGLE PASS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY |
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Sec. 1701.291. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "academy" |
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means the law enforcement academy established under this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 1701.292. ESTABLISHMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY. |
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(a) The commission shall establish and maintain a law enforcement |
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academy in Eagle Pass. |
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(b) The academy shall: |
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(1) provide basic, intermediate, and advanced law |
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enforcement training under this chapter; |
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(2) offer courses on topics relevant to: |
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(A) border security; |
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(B) rural law enforcement; |
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(C) community policing; and |
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(D) mental health response; |
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(3) collaborate with institutions of higher education |
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and university systems, as those terms are defined by Section |
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61.003, Education Code, including Sul Ross State University-Rio |
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Grande College and the Texas State University System, and local law |
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enforcement agencies; and |
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(4) provide continuing education opportunities for |
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officers and other law enforcement personnel. |
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Sec. 1701.293. DIRECTOR. (a) The commission shall employ a |
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director of the academy. |
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(b) The director shall: |
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(1) develop the academy's budget and staffing plan; |
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(2) oversee curriculum development and program |
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delivery; and |
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(3) annually report the academy's graduation rates, |
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training metrics, and employment outcomes to: |
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(A) the commission; and |
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(B) the legislature. |
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Sec. 1701.294. FUNDING. (a) The commission may use any |
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available funds to establish and maintain the academy, including |
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from: |
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(1) legislative appropriations; |
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(2) state or federal grants; |
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(3) private donations or partnerships; and |
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(4) tuition and fees associated with attendance of the |
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academy. |
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(b) The commission may apply for and accept state and |
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federal grants to support the establishment and maintenance of the |
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academy. |
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Sec. 1701.295. FACILITIES. The academy's primary facility |
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must be located in Eagle Pass and include: |
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(1) classrooms and training labs; |
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(2) simulation areas for de-escalation, emergency |
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response, and active shooter drills; |
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(3) a driving course for vehicle operations training; |
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and |
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(4) a firearms training range consistent with state |
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safety standards. |
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Sec. 1701.2951. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. Not later than |
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December 31, 2026, the commission shall submit a written |
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implementation plan to the legislature. The implementation plan |
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must include information regarding the process by which the academy |
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will establish the facilities described by Section 1701.295. This |
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section expires September 1, 2027. |
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Sec. 1701.296. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of |
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each year, the director of the academy shall submit an annual report |
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to the legislature. The report must include: |
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(1) data on enrollment, graduation rates, and job |
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placement for individuals who enroll in the academy; |
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(2) information on community engagement initiatives; |
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and |
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(3) recommendations for improvements to or expansion |
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of programs offered by the academy. |
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SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 1701.296, Occupations |
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Code, as added by this Act, the director of the academy is not |
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required to submit a report under that section before the first |
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anniversary of the date on which the academy required by Subchapter |
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F-1, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, begins |
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offering training to law enforcement officers. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |