HBA-BSM H.B. 3495 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3495
By: Isett
State Recreational Resources
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, game warden applicants must have successfully completed a
bachelor's level degree from an accredited college or university.  The
education policy does not take into consideration any work or background
experience before assessing requirements.  However, other state law
enforcement agencies such as the Department of Public Safety do take prior
law enforcement experience into consideration before requiring up to 60
semester hours from an accredited college or university.  The qualified
applicant pool for game wardens has been steadily decreasing, House Bill
3495 addresses this situation to provide a larger qualified applicant pool
for game wardens by providing that educational requirements for game
wardens are not to exceed the educational requirements of Department of
Public Safety officers.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is 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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3495 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require the
executive director of the Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure that the
educational qualifications required of an applicant for the position of
game warden do not exceed those required of an applicant for a position as
an officer with the Department of Public Safety. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.