Bill > HB3846

This bill modifies regulations for reserve peace officers in Texas, focusing on their employment status and reporting requirements. The legislation amends several sections of the Local Government Code and Water Code to standardize rules for reserve deputies, reserve deputy constables, and reserve police officers. These changes remove previous distinctions between peace officers based on a specific classification (Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure) and provide more flexibility for sheriffs, constables, and police chiefs in authorizing reserve officers to carry weapons and act as peace officers. Importantly, the bill introduces a new reporting requirement for law enforcement agencies with non-full-time officers, mandating that they submit periodic reports to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement about their reserve officers' employment activities, including the number of hours worked for the agency and for other entities. Reserve officers remain ineligible for full-time employment benefits and pension funds, and are not exempt from certain occupational regulations. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds vote in the Texas Legislature, or on September 1, 2025, if it does not receive the immediate effect vote. By September 1, 2026, the commission must submit a summary report to legislative leaders about the collected information, without revealing individual officer identities.

Military Affairs and Security

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3846