Eagle Pass Police Academy Comes With A Director And Tuition

The text as introduced · 535 words

89R10514 AND-D

By: Morales of Maverick
H.B. No. 4948

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a law enforcement academy in Eagle

Pass.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is amended by

adding Subchapter F-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F-1. EAGLE PASS LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY

Sec. 1701.291. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "academy"

means the law enforcement academy established under this

subchapter.

Sec. 1701.292. ESTABLISHMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ACADEMY.

(a) The commission shall establish and maintain a law enforcement

academy in Eagle Pass.

(b) The academy shall:

(1) provide basic, intermediate, and advanced law

enforcement training under this chapter;

(2) offer courses on topics relevant to:

(A) border security;

(B) rural law enforcement;

(C) community policing; and

(D) mental health response;

(3) collaborate with institutions of higher education

and university systems, as those terms are defined by Section

61.003, Education Code, including Sul Ross State University-Rio

Grande College and the Texas State University System, and local law

enforcement agencies; and

(4) provide continuing education opportunities for

officers and other law enforcement personnel.

Sec. 1701.293. DIRECTOR. (a) The commission shall employ a

director of the academy.

(b) The director shall:

(1) develop the academy's budget and staffing plan;

(2) oversee curriculum development and program

delivery; and

(3) annually report the academy's graduation rates,

training metrics, and employment outcomes to:

(A) the commission; and

(B) the legislature.

Sec. 1701.294. FUNDING. (a) The commission may use any

available funds to establish and maintain the academy, including

from:

(1) legislative appropriations;

(2) state or federal grants;

(3) private donations or partnerships; and

(4) tuition and fees associated with attendance of the

academy.

(b) The commission may apply for and accept state and

federal grants to support the establishment and maintenance of the

academy.

Sec. 1701.295. FACILITIES. The academy's primary facility

must be located in Eagle Pass and include:

(1) classrooms and training labs;

(2) simulation areas for de-escalation, emergency

response, and active shooter drills;

(3) a driving course for vehicle operations training;

and

(4) a firearms training range consistent with state

safety standards.

Sec. 1701.2951. IMPLEMENTATION PLAN. Not later than

December 31, 2026, the commission shall submit a written

implementation plan to the legislature. The implementation plan

must include information regarding the process by which the academy

will establish the facilities described by Section 1701.295. This

section expires September 1, 2027.

Sec. 1701.296. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of

each year, the director of the academy shall submit an annual report

to the legislature. The report must include:

(1) data on enrollment, graduation rates, and job

placement for individuals who enroll in the academy;

(2) information on community engagement initiatives;

and

(3) recommendations for improvements to or expansion

of programs offered by the academy.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Section 1701.296, Occupations

Code, as added by this Act, the director of the academy is not

required to submit a report under that section before the first

anniversary of the date on which the academy required by Subchapter

F-1, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, begins

offering training to law enforcement officers.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.