| 1 | 1 | | 88R1678 DRS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Cortez, et al. H.B. No. 278 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace |
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| 8 | 8 | | officers. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government |
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| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL AND |
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| 13 | 13 | | COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL |
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| 14 | 14 | | GOVERNMENT |
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| 15 | 15 | | SECTION 2. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended |
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| 16 | 16 | | by adding Section 370.007 to read as follows: |
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| 17 | 17 | | Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING CERTAIN VETERANS |
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| 18 | 18 | | AS PEACE OFFICERS. Notwithstanding any other law, a political |
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| 19 | 19 | | subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers may |
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| 20 | 20 | | commission and employ as a peace officer a legal permanent resident |
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| 21 | 21 | | of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the |
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| 22 | 22 | | armed forces of the United States. |
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| 23 | 23 | | SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is |
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| 24 | 24 | | amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows: |
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| 25 | 25 | | Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN VETERANS WHO ARE LEGAL |
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| 26 | 26 | | PERMANENT RESIDENTS. The commission shall issue a peace officer |
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| 27 | 27 | | license to a person who is a legal permanent resident of the United |
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| 28 | 28 | | States if the person: |
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| 29 | 29 | | (1) meets the requirements of this chapter and the |
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| 30 | 30 | | commission's rules; and |
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| 31 | 31 | | (2) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed |
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| 32 | 32 | | forces of the United States. |
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| 33 | 33 | | SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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| 34 | 34 | | of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall amend |
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| 35 | 35 | | rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, Occupations |
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| 36 | 36 | | Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 37 | 37 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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