H.B. No. 780
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to eligibility requirements for a beginning police
  department position in certain municipalities under municipal
  civil service.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 143.105, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 143.105.  ELIGIBILITY FOR BEGINNING POSITION IN POLICE
  DEPARTMENT. In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements
  prescribed by Section 143.023, to be certified as eligible for a
  beginning position with a police department, a person must be at
  least 21 years of age at the end of the probationary period and
  have:
               (1)  served in the United States armed forces and
  received an honorable discharge;
               (2)  earned at least 60 hours' credit in any area of
  study at an accredited college or university, of which not more than
  12 hours' credit may be earned for training at the police officer
  training academy operated or sponsored by the municipality; or
               (3)  been employed full-time for at least five years as
  a peace officer licensed by:
                     (A)  the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
  Standards and Education; or
                     (B)  an acceptable licensing entity in another
  state that has law enforcement officer licensing requirements
  substantially equivalent to those of Chapter 1701, Occupations
  Code.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to a certification of eligibility for a beginning position in a
  police department that occurs on or after the effective date of this
  Act.
         SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 780 was passed by the House on April
  15, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 780 was passed by the Senate on May
  27, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor