By: Toth H.B. No. 18
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the employment and licensing of border security
officers employed by the Department of Public Safety.
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 an honorable discharge; and
(2) holds a border security officer license issued by
the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
(b) The department shall develop a training program for
border security officers that complies with the requirements of
Subchapter P, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
(c) The department shall deploy border security officers to
serve along the Texas-Mexico border for 60 continuous days out of a
90-day period.
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 served in the United
States armed forces and received an honorable discharge and
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. 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.