By: Ortiz, Jr. H.B. No. 3721
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the training and certification of certain members or
former members of the military as correctional officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 493, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 493.034 to read as follows:
Sec. 493.034. TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MEMBERS
OF THE MILITARY AS CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS. (a) The department shall
establish and implement a streamlined program to train and certify
as a correctional officer an individual who is:
(1) a member of a reserve component of the United
States armed forces; or
(2) a former member of the United States armed forces
or a reserve component of the United States armed forces who has
received an honorable or general discharge.
(b) To the extent practicable, the department shall model
the program established under this section after the Troops to
Teachers program operated by the United States Department of
Education and Department of Defense.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice shall
establish and implement a program to train and certify members and
former members of the military as correctional officers as required
by Section 493.034, Government Code, as added by this Act.
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.