2023 Texas Statutes › Occupations Code › Title 10 - Occupations Related to Law Enforcement and Security › Chapter 1701 - Law Enforcement Officers › Subchapter I. Professional Training and Recognition › Section 1701.405. Telecommunicators

Sec. 1701.405.  TELECOMMUNICATORS.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 855, Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2011.
(2)  "Emergency" means the occurrence or imminent threat of damage, injury, or loss of life or property resulting from an extraordinary natural or man-made cause.
(3)  Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 855, Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2011.
(b)  This state or a political subdivision of this state may not employ a person to act as a telecommunicator unless the person:
(1)  has had at least 40 hours of telecommunicator training as determined by the commission;
(2)  is at least 18 years of age;
(3)  holds a high school diploma or high school equivalency certificate; and
(4)  holds a license to act as a telecommunicator or agrees to obtain the license not later than the first anniversary of the date of employment.
(b-1)  A person employed to act as a telecommunicator who has not obtained a license to act as a telecommunicator under this chapter may not continue to act as a telecommunicator after the first anniversary of the date of employment unless the person obtains the license.
(b-2)  Notwithstanding this section, an officer is not required to obtain a telecommunicator license to act as a telecommunicator.
(c)  The commission shall accredit telecommunicator training programs that fulfill the minimum requirements for a telecommunicator.  The commission shall adopt rules providing for the accreditation of telecommunicator training programs developed and taught by the Department of Public Safety, an institution of higher education, including a junior college, community college, or technical school, or any other entity approved by the commission.
(d)  A person who completes an accredited training program under this section may, by letter to the commission, request a written acknowledgment from the commission that the person has met the minimum requirements for a telecommunicator as determined by the commission.  The request must be accompanied, in accordance with commission rules, by evidence of satisfactory completion of an accredited telecommunicator training program.  On a determination by the commission that the person meets the minimum requirements for a telecommunicator, the commission shall issue the written acknowledgment to the person.
(e)  Repealed by Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 855, Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2011.
(f)  A person performing the duties of a telecommunicator and serving under permanent appointment on and before September 1, 1987, is not required to meet the requirements of this section as a condition of continued employment.
(g)  Notwithstanding this section, a person may be appointed or serve as a telecommunicator on a temporary or probationary basis or may perform the duties of a telecommunicator in an emergency.
(h)  A person appointed on a temporary or probationary basis after September 1, 1987, who does not satisfactorily complete an accredited telecommunicator training program before the first anniversary of the date the person is originally appointed shall be removed from the position.  The person's temporary or probationary appointment may not be extended for more than one year except that not earlier than the first anniversary of the date the person is removed under this subsection, the employing agency may petition the commission for reinstatement of the person to temporary or probationary employment.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 855 (H.B. 3823), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 855 (H.B. 3823), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2011.
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 968 (H.B. 1951), Sec. 10, eff. January 1, 2014.