By: Lucio III (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 1415
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2019;
April 29, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
Administration; May 8, 2019, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 8, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to continuing education training on civil process for
constables.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1701.3545, Occupations Code, is amended
by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (f) and adding Subsection
(b-1) to read as follows:
(a) A public institution of higher education selected by the
commission shall establish and offer a program of initial training
and a program of continuing education for constables. The
curriculum for each program must relate to law enforcement
management [and civil process issues]. The institution selected
under this subsection shall develop the curriculum for the
programs. The curriculum must be approved by the commission.
(b) Each constable must complete at least 40 hours of
continuing education provided by the selected institution under
Subsection (a) [this section] each 48-month period. The commission
by rule shall establish a uniform 48-month continuing education
training period.
(b-1) In addition to the requirements of Subsection (b),
during each 48-month continuing education training period each
constable must complete at least 20 hours of continuing education
instruction on civil process to be provided by a public institution
of higher education selected by the commission under this
subsection. The commission shall establish minimum curriculum
requirements for the continuing education course on civil process
required by this subsection. The commission may waive the
continuing education requirements of this subsection if:
(1) a constable requests a waiver because of hardship;
and
(2) the commission determines that a hardship exists.
(f) An individual who is subject to the continuing education
requirements of Subsections [Subsection] (b) and (b-1) is exempt
from other continuing education requirements under this
subchapter.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
* * * * *