86R12556 MAW-D By: Tinderholt H.B. No. 3726 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of the law enforcement officer standards and education fund for continuing education expenses of law enforcement personnel at private or independent institutions of higher education. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 1701.157, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: (a) Not later than March 1 of each calendar year, the comptroller shall allocate money deposited during the preceding calendar year in the general revenue fund to the credit of the law enforcement officer standards and education fund account for expenses related to the continuing education of persons licensed under this chapter as follows: (1) 20 percent of the money is allocated to all local law enforcement agencies in this state in equal shares; and (2) 80 percent of the money is allocated to all local law enforcement agencies in this state in a share representing a fixed amount for each position in the agency, as of January 1 of the preceding calendar year, that is reserved to a person who: (A) is licensed under this chapter; (B) works as a peace officer or telecommunicator, as defined by Section 1701.001, on the average of at least 32 hours a week; and (C) is compensated by a political subdivision of this state or a private or independent institution of higher education at least at the minimum wage and is entitled to all employee benefits offered to a peace officer or telecommunicator, as applicable, by the political subdivision or institution. (f) In this section: (1) "Local law enforcement agency" includes a law enforcement agency of a private or independent institution of higher education. (2) "Private or independent institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.