By: Toth H.B. No. 172
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the employment and licensing of border security
officers employed by the Department of Public Safety; making an
appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.02091 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.02091. BORDER SECURITY OFFICERS. (a) The
department may employ as a border security officer to assist
department efforts along the Texas-Mexico border an individual who:
(1) has served in the United States armed forces and
received a discharge because the individual refused to be
vaccinated against COVID-19; and
(2) holds a border security officer license issued by
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
(b) The department shall develop for border security
officers a training program that complies with the requirements of
Subchapter P, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter P to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER P. BORDER SECURITY OFFICERS
Sec. 1701.751. BORDER SECURITY OFFICER LICENSE. (a) The
commission shall adopt rules establishing a border security officer
license for border security officers of the Department of Public
Safety.
(b) The rules adopted under Subsection (a) must provide for
an application process for a border security officer license that
is similar to the application process for a peace officer license.
Sec. 1701.752. ELIGIBILITY. A border security officer
license may be issued only to an individual who:
(1) served in the United States armed forces and
received a discharge because the individual refused to be
vaccinated against COVID-19; and
(2) satisfies the eligibility requirements
established by commission rule.
Sec. 1701.753. REQUIRED TRAINING. The commission, in
consultation with the Department of Public Safety, shall establish
training requirements for border security officers.
Sec. 1701.754. AUTHORITY OF BORDER SECURITY OFFICER. (a)
An individual who holds a border security officer license has the
same authority as a peace officer except as otherwise provided by
commission rule.
(b) The commission, in consultation with the Department of
Public Safety, shall adopt rules to implement this section.
SECTION 3. The amount of $1 billion is appropriated from the
general revenue fund to the Department of Public Safety of the State
of Texas for the purpose of providing salaries to border security
officers employed by the department during the two-year period
beginning on the effective date of this Act.
SECTION 4. 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 on the 91st day after the last day of the
legislative session.