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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the eligibility of a person to serve as sheriff. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 85.0011(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A person is not eligible to serve as sheriff unless the |
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person: |
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(1) has a high school diploma or a high school |
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equivalency certificate; [and] |
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(2) [either: |
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[(A)] holds an active permanent peace officer |
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license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; [or |
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[(B) is eligible to be licensed under Sections |
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1701.309 and 1701.312, Occupations Code,] and |
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(3) [: |
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[(i)] has a minimum of five years of |
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experience as a peace officer [federal special investigator; or |
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[(ii) is a military veteran with a minimum |
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of 10 years of combined active duty or national guard service |
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experience]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1701.302(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as provided by Section 85.0011, Local Government |
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Code, an officer[, including a sheriff,] elected under the Texas |
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Constitution or a statute or appointed to fill a vacancy in an |
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elective office must obtain a license from the commission not later |
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than the second anniversary of the date the officer takes office. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 85.0011(a) and (c), Local Government |
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Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act do not apply |
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to a sheriff serving a term that began before the effective date of |
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this Act. A sheriff serving a term that began before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed for the remainder of that term by the |
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law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, |
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and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |