HBA-BSM S.B. 455 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 455 By: Armbrister Public Safety 5/17/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current Texas law, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) is required to establish the minimum qualifications for a person to enroll in a training program for basic peace and public security officer and county jailer licenses. TCLEOSE currently sets these requirements for initial licensure of peace officers at obtaining a high school diploma, a general education development (GED) test indicating high school graduation level, or 12 semester hours credit from an accredited college or university. Senate Bill 455 prohibits TCLEOSE from adopting a requirement that an applicant must hold an associate degree or a higher academic degree to be eligible for a license. 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 Senate Bill 455 amends the Occupations Code to prohibit the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education from adopting a requirement that an applicant must hold an associate degree conferred by a junior college or a higher academic degree conferred by an institution of higher education to be eligible for a peace or public security officer or county jailer license. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.