TITLE 37.PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

Part 7. TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER STANDARDS AND EDUCATION

Chapter 211. ADMINISTRATION

37 TAC §211.1

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (Commission) proposes an amendment to §211.1, concerning Definitions by amending the definitions of: academic program, accredited college or university, basic licensing course, firearms, field training program, high school diploma, patrol rifle, rifle, Texas peace officer, training coordinator, training cycle and training hours for clarification. The following definitions were added for clarification: precision rifle and resigned/terminated. Subsection (b) is amended to reflect the effective date for these changes.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect there will not be fiscal implications to state or local governments as a result of administering the section.

The Commission has determined that for the each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect there will be no anticipated economic cost to large, small, or micro businesses as a result of the proposed section.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect, there will a be positive benefit to the public by clarifying the definitions and the rules promulgated by the Commission.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five year the section as proposed will be in effect there will be no anticipated economic cost to individuals as a result of the proposed section.

Comments may be submitted in writing to Mr. Timothy A. Braaten, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, 6330 Highway 290 East, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78723.

The amendment is proposed under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1701, §1701.151 General Powers which authorized the Commission to promulgate rules for administration of this chapter.

The rule amendment as proposed is in compliance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.001 Definitions.

No other code, article, or statute is affected by this proposal.

§211.1.Definitions.

(a) The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) (No change.)

(2) Academic alternative program--A program for college credit offered by a training provider recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the Higher Texas Education Board, authorized by the Commission to conduct preparatory law enforcement training as part of a degree plan program, and consisting of Commission-approved curricula.

(3) Accredited college or university--An institution of higher education that is accredited or authorized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities [ Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges ], or the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

(4) - (9) (No change.)

(10) Basic licensing course--Any current commission developed course that is required before an individual may be licensed by the commission. The courses include: Peace Officer, Academic Alternative and [ Criminal Justice Transfer Curriculum, ] County Corrections[ , and Basic Instructor ].

(11) - (25) (No change.)

(26) Firearms--Any handgun, shotgun, precision rifle, patrol rifle, or fully automatic weapon that is carried by the individual officer in an official capacity [ on or off duty ].

(27) (No change.)

(28) Field training program--A program intended to facilitate a [ peace officer's ] transition from the academic setting to the performance of the general [ law enforcement ] duties of the appointing agency.

(29) - (30) (No change.)

(31) High school diploma--High school diploma is a document issued by a school district or a school accredited by the Texas Private School Accreditation Commission verifying that the recipient has successfully completed the course of study prescribed by the school district and accepted by the Texas Education Agency[ , or a comparable regulatory body in another state ].

(32) - (43) (No change.)

(44) Patrol rifle--Any [ semi-automatic, ] magazine-fed repeating rifle with iron/open sights or with a frame mounted optical enhancing sighting device, 3 power or less, that is carried by the individual officer in an official capacity [ on or off duty ].

(45) - (47) (No change.)

(48) Precision rifle--Any rifle with a frame mounted optical sighting device greater than 3 power that is carried by the individual officer in an official capacity.

(49) [ (48) ] Proprietary training contractor--An approved training contractor operated for a profit.

(50) [ (49) ] Public security officer--A person employed or appointed as an armed security officer by this state or a political subdivision of this state. The term does not include a security officer employed by a private security company that contracts with this state or a political subdivision of this state to provide security services for the entity.

(51) [ (50) ] Reactivate--To make a license issued by the commission active after at least a two-year break in service.

(52) Resigned/Terminated--an explanation of the circumstances under which the individual resigned (retired, honorably discharged), was terminated (dishonorably discharged, generally discharged), or other (killed in the line of duty, died, or disabled) in accordance with §1701.452.

(53) [ (51) ] Reinstate--To make a license issued by the commission active after disciplinary action or after expiration of a license due to failure to obtain required continuing education.

(54) [ (52) ] Renew--Continuation of an active license issued by the commission.

(55) [ (53) ] Reserve--A person appointed as a reserve law enforcement officer under the provisions of the Local Government Code, §85.004, §86.012 or §341.012.

[ (54) Rifle--Any bolt action or semi-automatic rifle with magnified sights that is carried by the individual officer in an official capacity on or off duty.]

(56) [ (55) ] Self-assessment--Completion of the commission created process, which gathers information about a training or education program.

(57) [ (56) ] SOAH--The State Office of Administrative Hearings.

(58) [ (57) ] Successful completion--A result of:

(A) 70 percent or better; or

(B) C or better; or

(C) pass, if offered as pass/fail.

(59) [ (58) ] Telecommunicator--A dispatcher or other emergency communications specialist appointed under or governed by the provisions of the Occupations Code, Chapter 1701.

(60) [ (59) ] Texas peace officer--For the purposes of eligibility for the Texas Peace Officers' Memorial, an individual who had been elected, employed, or appointed as a peace officer under Texas law; an individual appointed under Texas law as a reserve peace officer , [ who; ] a commissioned deputy game warden, or a corrections officer in a municipal, county, or state penal institution, a federal law enforcement officer or special agent performing duties in this state, including those officers under Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, or any other officer authorized by Texas law.

(61) [ (60) ] Training coordinator--An individual, appointed by a commission-recognized training provider, who meets the requirements of §215.9 [ has the knowledge and skills to oversee the training activity conducted by that provider ].

(62) [ (61) ] Training cycle-- A [ One period from the set of contiguous ] 48-month period as established by the Commission [ periods that begins on September 1, 2001 ]. Each training cycle is composed of two contiguous 24-month units.

(63) [ (62) ] Training hours--Actual classroom or distance education hours. [ One college semester hour equates to 20 training hours. ]

(64) [ (63) ] Training program--An organized collection of various resources recognized by the commission for providing preparatory or continuing training. This program includes, but is not limited to, learning goals and objectives, academic activities and exercises, lesson plans, exams, skills training, skill assessments, instructional and learning tools, and training requirements.

(65) [ (64) ] Training provider--A governmental body, law enforcement association, alternative delivery trainer, or proprietary entity credentialed by the commission to provide preparatory or continuing training for licensees or potential licensees.

(66) [ (65) ] Verification (verified)--The confirmation of the correctness, truth, or authenticity of a document, report, or information by sworn affidavit, oath, or deposition.

(b) The effective date of this section is June 1, 2006 [ 2004 ] .

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 13, 2006.

TRD-200600217

Timothy A. Braaten

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 26, 2006

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7717


Chapter 217. LICENSING REQUIREMENTS

37 TAC §217.1

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (Commission) proposes an amendment to §217.1, concerning Minimum Standards for Initial Licensure.

The amendment to subsection (a)(11) changes "Texas State Board of Medical Examiners" to "Texas Medical Board".

A proposed amendment is being made to subsection (g)(4). Subsection (o) is being amended to reflect the effective date for these changes.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect there will not be fiscal implications to state or local governments as a result of administering the section.

The Commission has determined that for the each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect there will be no anticipated economic cost to large, small, or micro businesses as a result of the proposed section.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five years the section as proposed will be in effect there will a positive benefit to the public by better identifying the time period individuals may test.

The Commission has determined that for each year of the first five year the section as proposed will be in effect there will be no anticipated economic cost to individuals as a result of the proposed section.

Comments may be submitted in writing to Mr. Timothy A. Braaten, Executive Director, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education, 6330 Highway 290 East, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78723.

The amendment is proposed under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1701, §1701.151. General Powers which authorized the Commission to promulgate rules for administration of this chapter.

The rule amendment as proposed is in compliance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.304 Examination.

No other code, article, or statute is affected by this proposal.

§217.1.Minimum Standards for Initial Licensure.

(a) The commission shall issue a peace officer, jailer, temporary jailer, or public security officer license to an applicant who meets the following standards:

(1) - (10) (No change.)

(11) has been examined by a physician, selected by the appointing or employing agency, who is licensed by the Texas Medical Board [ Texas State Board of Medical Examiners ]. The physician must be familiar with the duties appropriate to the type of license sought and appointment to be made. The appointee must be declared in writing by that professional within 180 days before the date of appointment by the agency to be:

(A) - (B) (No change.)

(12) - (18) (No change.)

(b) - (f) (No change.)

(g) A person must successfully complete the minimum training required for the license sought:

(1) - (3) (No change.)

(4) passing any examination required for the license sought prior to the expiration of the endorsement, [ within two years of commission receipt of the licensing application; ] and

(5) (No change.)

(h) - (n) (No change.)

(o) The effective date of this section is June 1, 2006 [ 2004 ].

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on January 13, 2006.

TRD-200600218

Timothy A. Braaten

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education

Earliest possible date of adoption: February 26, 2006

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7717