88R3203 SCP-D
By: Neave Criado H.B. No. 1076
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to hiring and licensing certain persons as peace officers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL AND
COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT
SECTION 2. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 370.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING CERTAIN PERSONS
AS PEACE OFFICERS. Notwithstanding any other law, a political
subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers may
commission and employ as a peace officer a legal permanent resident
of the United States.
SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is
amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows:
Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS.
The commission shall issue a peace officer license to a person who
is a legal permanent resident of the United States if the person
meets the requirements of this chapter and the commission's rules.
SECTION 4. Section 1701.451(a), Occupations Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) Before a law enforcement agency may hire a person
licensed under this chapter, the agency must, on a form and in the
manner prescribed by the commission:
(1) obtain the person's written consent for the agency
to review the information required to be reviewed under this
section;
(2) request from the commission and any other
applicable person information required to be reviewed under this
section; and
(3) submit to the commission confirmation that the
agency, to the best of the agency's ability before hiring the
person:
(A) contacted each entity or individual
necessary to obtain the information required to be reviewed under
this section; and
(B) except as provided by Subsection (b),
obtained and reviewed as related to the person, as applicable:
(i) personnel files and other employee
records from each previous law enforcement agency employer,
including the employment application submitted to the previous
employer;
(ii) employment termination reports
maintained by the commission under this subchapter;
(iii) service records maintained by the
commission;
(iv) proof that the person meets the
minimum qualifications for enrollment in a training program under
Section 1701.251(a);
(v) a military veteran's United States
Department of Defense Form DD-214 or other military discharge
record;
(vi) criminal history record information;
(vii) information on pending warrants as
available through the Texas Crime Information Center and National
Crime Information Center;
(viii) evidence of financial
responsibility as required by Section 601.051, Transportation
Code;
(ix) a driving record from the Department
of Public Safety;
(x) proof of United States citizenship or,
if the person is a peace officer, legal permanent residence; and
(xi) information on the person's background
from at least three personal references and at least two
professional references.
SECTION 5. Not later than December 1, 2023, the Texas
Commission on Law Enforcement shall amend rules as necessary to
comply with Section 1701.3095, Occupations Code, as added by this
Act, and Section 1701.451, Occupations Code, as amended by this
Act.
SECTION 6. Section 1701.451, Occupations Code, as amended
by this Act, applies only to the hiring of a person by a law
enforcement agency that occurs on or after December 1, 2023. The
hiring of a person by a law enforcement agency that occurs before
that date is governed by the law in effect immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.