H.B. No. 2580
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a peace officer employment
opportunity Internet website by the Texas Workforce Commission.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 302, Labor Code, is
amended by adding Section 302.016 to read as follows:
Sec. 302.016. PEACE OFFICER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
INTERNET WEBSITE. (a) In this section, "peace officer" has the
meaning assigned by Section 1701.001, Occupations Code.
(b) The commission shall develop, maintain, and promote a
statewide employment opportunity Internet website to facilitate:
(1) public awareness of peace officer employment
opportunities with state and local law enforcement agencies; and
(2) an exchange of information between individuals
seeking employment as peace officers in this state and state and
local law enforcement agencies seeking applicants for employment as
peace officers.
(c) The Internet website must:
(1) be accessible to members of the public; and
(2) provide to individuals seeking employment as peace
officers and state and local law enforcement agencies that have
posted employment opportunities on the website an organized means
of exchanging information.
(d) The commission shall contract with the Commission on Law
Enforcement Officer Standards and Education to develop a license
verification interface to verify whether an applicant for
employment as a peace officer:
(1) holds a current license issued by the Commission
on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Chapter
1701, Occupations Code, and, if so, the level of that license; and
(2) has had the applicant's license revoked or
suspended by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards
and Education.
(e) The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and
Education shall provide the commission with technical assistance in
the development and testing of the license verification interface
under Subsection (d).
(f) If the development and operation of the Internet website
and the associated license verification interface is not possible
due to a lack of available funding, the commission shall:
(1) enter into a memorandum of understanding with the
Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education to
integrate a peace officer job matching database for individuals
seeking employment as peace officers in this state and state and
local law enforcement agencies seeking applicants for employment as
peace officers into the commission's existing Labor Exchange
System; and
(2) ensure that:
(A) the commission registers an Internet domain
name that is unique and that identifies on its face the purpose of
the peace officer job matching database; and
(B) the registered domain name and associated
link directs users of the Internet to a web page that instructs
users on how to use the Labor Exchange System and includes a link to
enter that system.
SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
provision in this Act that creates a new governmental program,
creates a new entitlement, or imposes a new duty on a governmental
entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
provision.
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, 2009.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2580 was passed by the House on April
28, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 4, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 2580 on May 23, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 1,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2580 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 21, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor