TITLE: Relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace officers.

SUMMARY: Relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace officers.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to hiring and licensing certain veterans as peace officers. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended to read as follows: CHAPTER 370. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS RELATING TO [MUNICIPAL AND COUNTY] HEALTH AND PUBLIC SAFETY OF MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECTION 2. Chapter 370, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 370.007 to read as follows: Sec. 370.007. COMMISSIONING AND EMPLOYING CERTAIN VETERANS AS PEACE OFFICERS. Notwithstanding any other law, a political subdivision that commissions and employs peace officers may commission and employ as a peace officer a legal permanent resident of the United States who is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States. SECTION 3. Subchapter G, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1701.3095 to read as follows: Sec. 1701.3095. LICENSING OF CERTAIN VETERANS WHO ARE LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS. The commission shall issue a peace officer license to a person who is a legal permanent resident of the United States if the person: (1) meets the requirements of this chapter and the commission's rules; and (2) is an honorably discharged veteran of the armed forces of the United States. SECTION 4. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall amend rules as necessary to comply with Section 1701.3095, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.