sheriffs need a diploma, a license and five years

The text as introduced · 319 words

89R15165 MZM-D

By: Schatzline
H.B. No. 5542

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the eligibility of a person to serve as sheriff.

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

SECTION 1. Section 85.0011(b), Local Government Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) A person is not eligible to serve as sheriff unless the

person:

(1) has a high school diploma or a high school

equivalency certificate; [ and ]

(2) [ either:

[ (A) ] holds an active permanent peace officer

license under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code; [ or

[ (B) is eligible to be licensed under Sections

1701.309 and 1701.312, Occupations Code, ] and

(3) [ :

[ (i) ] has a minimum of five years of

experience as a peace officer [ federal special investigator; or

[ (ii) is a military veteran with a minimum

of 10 years of combined active duty or national guard service

experience ].

SECTION 2. Section 1701.302(a), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) Except as provided by Section 85.0011, Local Government

Code, an officer[ , including a sheriff, ] elected under the Texas

Constitution or a statute or appointed to fill a vacancy in an

elective office must obtain a license from the commission not later

than the second anniversary of the date the officer takes office.

SECTION 3. Sections 85.0011(a) and (c), Local Government

Code, are repealed.

SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act do not apply

to a sheriff serving a term that began before the effective date of

this Act. A sheriff serving a term that began before the effective

date of this Act is governed for the remainder of that term by the

law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act,

and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.