HBA-NIK H.B. 2673 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2673 By: Keel Public Safety 4/15/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (commission) requires state and local agencies to provide a training program for each peace officer and jailer every 24 months. The statutes also provide for the additional training on specific topics such as child abuse, family violence, sexual assault, cultural diversity, and civil rights. H.B. 2673 increases the flexibility of the commission and the local agencies in providing the required training. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is in the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 415.034, Government Code, as amended by Chapters 254, 538, 562, and 585, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, as follows: (b) Prohibits the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (commission) from requiring that the length of the training program exceed 40 hours rather than prohibiting the course from exceeding 40 hours. (c) Provides that in addition to the training program required by Subsection (b), the commission is required to require the specified entities to provide each peace officer with a training program under this subsection every 48, rather than 24, months. Prohibits the commission from requiring that the length of the program exceed 20 hours. Provides that the course must, in addition to other enumerated requirements, include education and training in sex offender characteristics and documentation of cases. (d) Deletes text providing that the course must be approved by the commission, include education and training in enumerated areas, and include other training if determined necessary by the agency. Deletes the prohibition of the course provided under Subsection (b) or (c) from exceeding 40 hours. (e) Redesignated from Subsection (d). (f) Redesignated from Subsection (e). Makes a conforming change. (g) Extends the education and training in civil rights, racial sensitivity, and cultural diversity that the commission is authorized to require of specified agencies from occurring every 24 months to every 48 months. Redesignated from Subsection (f). (h) Includes failure of a peace officer to complete a training course provided under Subsection (c) at least once in every 48-month period as a reason the commission is authorized to suspend the license of a peace officer. Redesignated from Subsection (g). Makes a conforming change. (i) Modifies the adequate notice of impending noncompliance with training requirements so that agencies and officers may comply within the required time periods, rather than within the 24-month period. Deletes text requiring training in documentation of cases required by Subsection (b) to include enumerated instructions. SECTION 2. (a) Requires the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education to establish the curricula for a continuing education training program for peace officers as separately required by Section 415.034(c) (Continuing Education), Government Code, not later than January 1, 2000. (b) Provides that, for persons who are licensed peace officers on September 1, 1999, the first course, separately required under Section 415.034(b), Government Code, must be completed before September 1, 2001, and the first course separately required under Section 415.034(c), Government Code, must be completed before September 1, 2003. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.