88R8951 AMF-D By: Vo H.B. No. 1954 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the licensing of certain veterans by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and the hiring of those veterans by political subdivisions. 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. APPOINTING OR EMPLOYING CERTAIN VETERANS TO POSITION REQUIRING LICENSURE. (a) In this section, "commission" means the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision that appoints or employs a person to hold a position that requires the person to be licensed by the commission may appoint or employ a legal permanent resident of the United States to hold the position if the person is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States and holds the appropriate license issued by the commission. SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows: Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN VETERANS WHO ARE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS. The commission shall issue a license the commission is authorized to issue to a person who is a legal permanent resident of the United States if the person: (1) meets the requirements of this chapter and the commission's rules for the license; and (2) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States. SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.