The bill, S.B. No. 554, proposes amendments to the Local Government Code and the Occupations Code to allow legal permanent residents to be licensed as county jailers by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Specifically, it modifies Section 370.007 to replace the term "veterans" with "legal permanent residents" in the context of appointing or employing individuals for positions requiring licensure. Additionally, it allows political subdivisions to hire legal permanent residents as county jailers if they possess the necessary license, and it establishes criteria for issuing licenses to legal permanent residents, including the requirement to apply for U.S. citizenship.

Furthermore, the bill amends Section 1701.451 to clarify the hiring process for law enforcement agencies, ensuring that they can hire legal permanent residents as county jailers under specific conditions. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement is tasked with updating its rules to align with these changes by December 1, 2025, and the new provisions will take effect on September 1, 2025. Overall, the bill aims to expand employment opportunities for legal permanent residents in law enforcement roles while maintaining necessary licensing standards.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 1701.3095, Occupations Code 1701.451 (Occupations Code 1701)