84R733 MAW-D
By: Guillen H.B. No. 503
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the appointment of special rangers for the State Board
of Veterinary Medical Examiners.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 801, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 801.164 to read as follows:
Sec. 801.164. SPECIAL RANGERS. (a) In this section:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law
Enforcement.
(2) "Department" means the Department of Public
Safety.
(b) The director of the department may appoint two special
rangers who are employed by the board to assist law enforcement
agencies in the investigation of violations of this chapter.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a special ranger
appointed under this section may make arrests and exercise all
authority given peace officers under the Code of Criminal Procedure
when necessary to prevent or abate an offense under this chapter.
(d) A special ranger appointed under this section may not
issue a traffic citation for a violation of Chapter 521,
Transportation Code, or Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation Code.
(e) A special ranger appointed under this section is not
entitled to state benefits normally provided by the state to an
employee that are based on the employee's status as a peace officer.
(f) A person may not serve as a special ranger under this
section unless:
(1) the board submits the person's application for
appointment and certification as a special ranger to the director
of the department and to the executive director of the commission;
(2) the director of the department issues the person a
certificate of authority to act as a special ranger;
(3) the executive director of the commission:
(A) determines that the person meets minimum
standards required of peace officers by the commission relating to
competence, reliability, education, training, morality, and
physical and mental health; and
(B) issues the person a license as a special
ranger; and
(4) the person has met all standards for certification
as a peace officer by the commission.
(g) For good cause, the director of the department may
revoke a certificate of authority issued under this section and the
executive director of the commission may revoke a license issued
under this section. Termination of employment with the board, or
the revocation of a special ranger license, is grounds for the
automatic revocation of a certificate of authority to act as a
special ranger.
(h) All expenses incurred by the granting or revocation of a
certificate of authority to act as a special ranger under this
section shall be paid by the board.
(i) The director of the department and the executive
director of the commission may adopt rules necessary for the
effective administration and performance of the duties and
responsibilities delegated to the director and executive director
by this section.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.