TITLE 37. PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS

PART 7. TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT

CHAPTER 211. ADMINISTRATION

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (Commission) adopts amended 37 Texas Administrative Code §211.16, Establishment or Continued Operation of an Appointing Entity, with non-substantive changes to the proposed text as published in the May 22, 2026 issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 3533). The rule will be republished.

The adopted amended rule conforms with the amendments made by House Bill 33 (89R). It requires every agency to have access to a breaching tool and ballistic shield, clarifies requirements of an agency's active shooter policy, and requires certain agencies to have a Public Information Officer. The Public Information Officer has one year from assignment to obtain the certificate. It also clarifies the communications equipment requirement that if certain officers have a radio, they do not also need a cell phone.

Finally, the adopted amended rule conforms with the amendment to Texas Occupations Code §1701.163 made by Senate Bill 1445 (88R). It provides guidance to determine whether a prospective agency or existing agency provides public benefit to the community and describes the process for applying to create a new agency or deactivating an existing agency. The goal is to provide objective measures and consistent processes when evaluating applications for new agencies and issues involving existing agencies. Non-exclusive lists of factors to determine whether an agency provides public benefit to the community are included in the adopted amended rule for both prospective and existing agencies. These factors and processes were developed from prior experiences and observations when evaluating past applications for the creation of a new agency and addressing issues with struggling agencies. This adopted amended rule will allow governing bodies and agencies to better understand the process and requirements to create and maintain an agency and what may put an agency at risk.

The public comment period began on May 22, 2026, and ended on June 25, 2026, at the conclusion of the public meeting of the Commission. One public comment was received.

Public Comment No. 1 from the Bastrop-Travis Counties Emergency Services District 1: Commenter requests that the following be added as subsection (b)(6): "the agency is an Emergency Services District, and the Emergency Services District has adopted a Fire Code in accordance with Texas Health and Safety Code 775.036 (5)(b) and the Peace Officers will be performing duties outlined in Texas Health and Safety Code 775.036 (g)." Commenter states that Emergency Services Districts (ESDs) have the authority to appoint peace officers and the Legislature did not intend that ESDs have to face the extra hurdle of proving to the Commission that they provide a public benefit to the community. Commenter states that ESDs "respond to emergencies, investigate arson, environmental and other fire-related crimes, secure hazardous scenes, and enforce burn bans and other life-safety ordinances-often in rural or rapidly growing unincorporated areas where no other law-enforcement agency is readily available or are inadequately qualified to do so."

Commission Response: By law, many governmental entities may appoint peace officers. However, the entity must become a law enforcement agency to appoint peace officers. To this end, the Legislature has required that the Commission establish by rule minimum standards for the creation and continued operation of a law enforcement agency so that an authorized entity can appoint peace officers. One of these required minimum standards is a determination regarding the public benefit of creating the law enforcement agency in the community. No law requires that an ESD be a law enforcement agency or that an ESD be presumed to provide public benefit to the community. Similarly, nothing in the public comment leads to the policy conclusion that an ESD should be presumed to provide a public benefit to the community and be included in subsection (b) of the adopted amended rule. The Commission made a policy decision that most entities that may appoint peace officers not be included in subsection (b) to give effect to the Legislature's intent that an entity show a public benefit to the community to possibly become a law enforcement agency. Generally, the excepted entities in subsection (b) are required by law, prosecute criminal offenses, or are school related.

The Texas Constitution states that ESDs may provide emergency medical services, emergency ambulance services, rural fire prevention and control services, or other emergency services authorized by the Legislature. Emergency medical services and emergency ambulance services may only be provided by a person licensed as an emergency medical services provider by the Texas Department of State Health Services. Besides ESDs, fire prevention and control services, including inspections for fire hazards, may also be provided by fire departments and fire marshals, among others. Importantly, private businesses that provide their own fire prevention and control services with the right equipment are not subject to an ESD's authority or an ESD's taxes. None of these entities, including ESDs, are required to be a law enforcement agency to provide these services. And not all ESDs are the same, as an ESD may provide limited services or use its funding to contract for the provision of authorized services. Additionally, many ESDs across Texas provide their authorized services without being a law enforcement agency, including Commenter. Therefore, public benefit to the community as a law enforcement agency should not be presumed solely because of the services an ESD is authorized to provide, including inspection for fire hazards. However, this does not preclude an ESD from showing that it provides public benefit to the community through subsection (c) of the adopted amended rule to possibly become a law enforcement agency.

The amended rule is adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code §411.3735, Certification and Continuing Education Required for Certain Public Information Officers, Texas Government Code §418.333, Certification and Continuing Education, Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.163, Minimum Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies. Texas Government Code §411.3735 requires certain agencies to have a public information officer who has or obtains the public information officer certificate. Texas Government Code §418.333 requires an applicant for a public information officer certification to complete minimum education and training requirements for initial certification and to complete continuing education to maintain the certificate. Texas Occupations Code §1701.151 authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of Occupations Code Chapter 1701. Texas Occupations Code §1701.163 requires the Commission to adopt rules to establish minimum standards with respect to the creation or continued operation of a law enforcement agency.

The amended rule as adopted affects or implements Texas Government Code §411.3735, Certification and Continuing Education Required for Certain Public Information Officers, Texas Government Code §418.333, Certification and Continuing Education, Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.163, Minimum Standards for Law Enforcement Agencies. No other code, article, or statute is affected by this adoption.

§211.16. Establishment or Continued Operation of an Appointing Entity.

(a) To establish that an agency or a prospective agency meets the minimum standards for the creation or continued operation of a law enforcement agency, the agency must provide evidence that the agency:

(1) provides public benefit to the community;

(2) has sustainable funding sources that meet or exceed the continued operating expenses outlined in a line-item budget for the agency;

(3) has physical resources available to officers, including:

(A) at least one firearm per officer on duty;

(B) at least one less lethal force weapon per officer on duty;

(C) effective communications equipment, specifically:

(i) at least one radio communication device per officer on duty performing patrol, courtroom security, traffic enforcement, responding to calls for service, assigned to a controlled access point, acting as a visual deterrent to crime, surveillance, warrant execution, and service of civil process; and

(ii) at least one radio communication device or cell phone device for any other officer on duty who may have contact with the general public;

(D) at least one bullet-resistant vest per officer on duty with vest panels that:

(i) have been certified as compliant by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ);

(ii) are within the ballistic performance warranty period listed by the manufacturer on the affixed tags; and

(iii) have never been shot or otherwise compromised;

(E) access to at least one breaching tool and one ballistic shield;

(F) for agencies with primary jurisdiction over a school district or open-enrollment charter school, one breaching tool and one ballistic shield available at each campus;

(G) at least one uniform per officer whose duties include any of the following:

(i) performing patrol;

(ii) courtroom security;

(iii) traffic enforcement;

(iv) responding to calls for service;

(v) assigned to a controlled access point;

(vi) acting as a visual deterrent to crime;

(vii) warrant execution; or

(viii) service of civil process;

(H) at least one motor vehicle owned and insured by an agency created on or after June 1, 2024; and

(I) patrol vehicles provided to officers whose duties include either performing patrol, traffic enforcement, or responding to calls for service that:

(i) are owned, insured, and equipped by the agency; or

(ii) may be personally owned for agencies in existence before June 1, 2024, that have not provided agency-owned patrol vehicles from June 1, 2024, to the present;

(4) has physical facilities, including:

(A) an evidence room or other acceptable secure evidence storage for officers whose duties include any of the following:

(i) performing patrol;

(ii) traffic enforcement;

(iii) criminal investigations;

(iv) responding to calls for service; or

(v) executing search or arrest warrants;

(B) a dispatch area for any agency appointing and employing telecommunicators; and

(C) a public area including written notices posted and visible 24 hours a day explaining:

(i) how to receive the most immediate assistance in an emergency;

(ii) how to make a nonemergency report of a crime; and

(iii) how to make a compliment or complaint on a member of the agency by mail, online, or by phone;

(5) has policies, including policies on:

(A) use of force;

(B) vehicle pursuit;

(C) professional conduct of officers;

(D) domestic abuse protocols;

(E) response to missing persons;

(F) supervision of part-time officers;

(G) impartial policing;

(H) medical and psychological examination of licensees;

(I) active shooters, including a detailed written policy based on current best practices for responding to an active shooter incident at a primary or secondary school facility and a recommendation for the frequency at which simulated emergency drills should be conducted;

(J) barricaded subjects;

(K) evidence collection and handling;

(L) eyewitness identification;

(M) misconduct investigations;

(N) hiring a license holder;

(O) personnel files;

(P) uniform and dress code;

(Q) training required to maintain licensure; and

(R) outside and off-duty employment;

(6) has an assigned public information officer who must hold a valid public information officer certificate or must obtain the certificate within the first year of assignment, if the agency is:

(A) a municipal police department;

(B) a sheriff's office;

(C) a county constable's office;

(D) a school district police department; or

(E) the Texas Department of Public Safety;

(7) has an established administrative structure, including:

(A) an organizational chart for the agency that illustrates the division and assignment of licensed and unlicensed personnel;

(B) a projection for the number of full-time peace officers, part-time peace officers, and reserve law enforcement officers that the agency would employ during the year if at full staffing; and

(C) the number of School Resource Officer (SRO) positions employed by the agency and working in schools if the agency is not an independent school district (ISD) police department;

(8) has liability insurance for the agency and any vehicles used for agency purposes;

(9) has a defined process by which the agency will receive by mail, online, and by phone and document compliments and complaints on its employees; and

(10) any other information the commission requires.

(b) An entity applying to create a law enforcement agency is presumed to provide public benefit to the community if any of the following conditions are satisfied:

(1) the agency's chief administrator is an officer elected under the Texas Constitution;

(2) the agency is required by statute;

(3) the agency serves a municipality that contains a population of at least 10,000 people and the municipality is without an agency;

(4) the agency consists of investigators for a county or district attorney's office; or

(5) the agency serves a school district, open-enrollment charter school, private school, state institution of higher education, public technical institute, or private institution of higher education with an enrollment of at least 2,500 students.

(c) An entity applying to create a law enforcement agency may be found to provide public benefit to the community based upon a balance of the following factors:

(1) the unmet law enforcement needs of the subject community;

(2) a consideration of the presence of other agencies within the subject community, including but not limited to:

(A) the number and types of agencies that serve the community;

(B) the consistency of jurisdictional coverage to be provided;

(C) the unique law enforcement needs to be provided that are not already provided by another agency; and

(D) the ability of other agencies to provide the desired law enforcement services to the community through agreements or contracts;

(3) the desired law enforcement functions, roles, and responsibilities of the prospective agency within the subject community;

(4) a comparison of establishing an agency versus other options to address the desired law enforcement needs;

(5) the ability to provide continuity of law enforcement services;

(6) the provision of full-time versus part-time coverage;

(7) the staffing to be achieved by full-time, part-time, or reserve law enforcement officers;

(8) the ability to recruit and retain qualified licensees for appointment;

(9) the ability to recruit or retain a chief administrator;

(10) the ability to supervise, train, and develop licensees;

(11) the ability to fulfill administrative obligations required by law, including but not limited to:

(A) training compliance;

(B) maintaining required records in compliance with applicable laws;

(C) reporting compliance;

(D) appointment and separation processes;

(E) investigating and resolving allegations of misconduct; and

(F) policy development, implementation, and compliance;

(12) access to legal support and other supportive resources;

(13) oversight and support to be provided by the governing body;

(14) prior agency and governing body history with the commission; and

(15) any other factor the commission considers relevant.

(d) A law enforcement agency may be found to no longer provide public benefit to the community based upon a balance of the following factors:

(1) the relevant factors contained in subsection (c) of this section;

(2) the turnover rate of agency staff;

(3) the history and seriousness of the agency's audit and inspection deficiencies and violations;

(4) the history and seriousness of administrative and criminal misconduct of the agency's appointees;

(5) neglect of the agency's duties;

(6) lack of oversight or abuse by the agency's governing body;

(7) involvement in activities not related to the statutory purpose for the type of agency; and

(8) any other factor the commission considers relevant.

(e) An entity authorized by law to establish a law enforcement agency and appoint licensees must first complete training offered and required by the commission on the creation and continued operation of a new agency before applying to create a new law enforcement agency. This training consists of:

(1) an introduction to the new agency creation process that outlines the objectives, process, and timelines for creating a new agency;

(2) review and completion of the new agency workbook, including the gathering of required information and completion of required worksheets; and

(3) an in-person commission staff working group.

(f) After completing the required training, the entity may then submit the initial application for the creation of a new law enforcement agency by:

(1) submitting the current agency number application form;

(2) demonstrating that the prospective new agency would provide public benefit to the community and has sustainable funding sources; and

(3) outlining the prospective agency plan.

(g) If the executive director denies the initial application, the entity may appeal to the commissioners during a public meeting of the commission. If the commissioners approve the initial application, the entity may submit the final application demonstrating all requirements of subsection (a) of this section have been met.

(h) If the executive director approves the initial application, the entity may submit the final application demonstrating all requirements of subsection (a) of this section have been met.

(i) After submission of the final application, the commission will perform an inspection to confirm that the prospective agency meets the minimum standards for the creation of a law enforcement agency. If the minimum standards are met, a new law enforcement agency will be created.

(j) A denial of the initial or final application may include conditions which must be satisfied before an entity may reapply to create a new law enforcement agency.

(k) A law enforcement agency that no longer meets the minimum standards for the continued operation of an agency may be deactivated. Deactivation of an agency requires the separation of all licensees, including the chief administrator, and the revocation of the authority to appoint licensees.

(l) The governing body of an agency that has been deactivated must continue to maintain records required by the commission as prescribed by law and must report motor vehicle stop data for all years and partial years that elapsed prior to deactivation.

(m) An entity authorized by Local Government Code, §361.022 to operate a correctional facility to house inmates, in this state, convicted of offenses committed against the laws of another state of the United States, and appoint jailers requiring licensure by the commission, may make application for an agency number by submitting the current agency number application form, any associated application fee, and a certified copy of the contract under which the facility will operate.

(n) A political subdivision wanting to establish a consolidated emergency telecommunications center and appoint telecommunicators, as required by Texas Occupations Code, §1701.405, may make application for an agency number by submitting the current agency number application form, any associated application fee and a certified copy of the consolidation contract.

(o) The Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Pardon and Parole Division, a community supervision and corrections department, or a juvenile probation department may make application for an agency number if seeking firearms training certificates for parole officers, community supervision and corrections officers, or juvenile probation officers by submitting the current agency number application form and any associated application fee.

(p) All law enforcement agencies must complete and submit an annual report due between January 1st and March 1st of each year documenting their continued compliance with the requirements of this rule.

(q) The effective date of this section is September 1, 2026.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 7, 2026.

TRD-202603355

Gregory Stevens

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Effective date: September 1, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 22, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7700

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (Commission) adopts amended 37 Texas Administrative Code §211.29, Responsibilities of Agency Chief Administrators, with non-substantive changes to the proposed text as published in the May 22, 2026 issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 3537). The rule will be republished.

The adopted amended rule conforms with the amendments made by House Bill 33 (89R). It requires a chief administrator to submit a preliminary report within 45 days and then a final report within 90 days that evaluates the response by the law enforcement agency to an active shooter incident at a primary or secondary school.

Also, the adopted amendment requires a chief administrator to report to the Commission successful completion of personnel orientation and field training by a licensee. This will reduce delays for licensees in achieving basic proficiency certificates and will reduce administrative burdens for the Commission in issuing basic proficiency certificates. This will also allow the Commission to better track which law enforcement agencies are providing the required training to licensees.

Finally, the adopted amendment requires a chief administrator to report to the Commission that certain individuals do not meet the minimum standards for enrollment or initial licensure. This will help the Commission to sooner identify those who are potentially ineligible for a license.

The public comment period began on May 22, 2026, and ended on June 25, 2026, at the conclusion of the public meeting of the Commission. No public comments were received.

The amended rule is adopted pursuant to Texas Government Code §418.1873, Evaluation and Report on Response to Active Shooter Incident at School Facility Required for Certain Entities, Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.402, Proficiency Certificates. Texas Government Code §418.1873 requires the Commission to adopt rules with respect to local law enforcement agencies for evaluating responses to active shooter incidents at primary or secondary schools. Texas Occupations Code §1701.151 authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of Occupations Code Chapter 1701 and to establish minimum standards relating to the competence and reliability, including the education, training, physical, and mental standards, for licensing as an officer, county jailer, or telecommunicator. Texas Occupations Code §1701.402 requires law enforcement agencies to provide training relating to employment issues that affect peace officer, telecommunicators, and county jailers and makes this training a requirement for a basic proficiency certificate.

The amended rule as adopted affects or implements Texas Government Code §418.1873, Evaluation and Report on Response to Active Shooter Incident at School Facility Required for Certain Entities, Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.402, Proficiency Certificates. No other code, article, or statute is affected by this adoption.

§211.29. Responsibilities of Agency Chief Administrators.

(a) An agency chief administrator is responsible for making any and all reports and submitting any and all documents required of that agency by the commission.

(b) An individual who is appointed or elected to the position of the chief administrator of a law enforcement agency shall notify the Commission of the date of appointment and title, through a form prescribed by the Commission within 30 days of such appointment.

(c) An agency chief administrator must comply with the appointment and retention requirements under Texas Occupations Code, Chapter 1701.

(d) An agency chief administrator must report to the commission within 30 days, any change in the agency's name, physical location, mailing address, electronic mail address, or telephone number.

(e) An agency chief administrator must report, in a standard format, incident-based data compiled in accordance with Texas Occupations Code §1701.164.

(f) For purposes of this subsection, an active shooter incident is an incident involving one or more individuals actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area. Following a response to an active shooter incident at a primary or secondary school facility by any member of a law enforcement agency, the agency chief administrator must submit to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission:

(1) a preliminary report on an evaluation of the agency's response to the incident within 45 days of the incident, or as soon as practicable thereafter; and

(2) a final report on an evaluation of the agency's response to the incident within 90 days of the incident, or as soon as practicable thereafter.

(g) Line of duty deaths shall be reported to the commission in current peace officers' memorial reporting formats.

(h) An agency chief administrator must report to the commission on a form prescribed by the commission within seven days of discovery by any member of the agency that one of the following does not currently meet or did not meet the minimum standards for enrollment or initial licensure at the time of application, enrollment, or appointment:

(1) a licensee applying for enrollment or appointment with the agency;

(2) a person enrolled in the agency's academy;

(3) a person enrolled in any academy and sponsored by the agency; or

(4) a licensee appointed with the agency.

(i) An agency chief administrator has an obligation to determine that all appointees are able to safely and effectively perform the essential job functions. An agency chief administrator may require a fit for duty review upon identifying factors that indicate an appointee may no longer be able to perform job-related functions safely and effectively. These factors should be based on objective evidence and a reasonable basis that the cause may be attributable to a medical or psychological condition or impairment.

(j) An agency chief administrator shall notify the commission of any failed medical (L-2) or psychological (L-3) examination within 30 days on a form prescribed by the commission. An agency chief administrator shall notify the commission upon a final determination of a failed fit-for-duty examination (FFDE) or drug screen within 30 days on a form prescribed by the commission.

(k) An agency must provide training on employment issues identified in Texas Occupations Code §1701.402 and field training. If successfully completed, the agency must report these trainings to the commission within 30 days.

(l) An agency must provide continuing education training required in Texas Occupations Code §1701.351 and §1701.352.

(m) Before an agency appoints any licensee to a position requiring a commission license it shall complete the reporting requirements of Texas Occupations Code §1701.451.

(n) An agency appointing a person who does not hold a commission license must file an application for the appropriate license with the commission.

(o) An agency must notify the commission electronically following the requirements of Texas Occupations Code §1701.452, when a person under appointment with that agency resigns or is terminated.

(p) An agency chief administrator must comply with orders from the commission regarding the correction of a report of resignation/termination or request a hearing from SOAH.

(q) An agency chief administrator must:

(1) at the time the agency becomes aware of an allegation of misconduct, as defined in the model policy required by Texas Occupations Code § 1701.4522(a)(1), that may result in suspension, demotion, or termination, initiate an appropriate administrative or criminal investigation into alleged misconduct of a licensee who was appointed by the law enforcement agency at the time the alleged misconduct occurred;

(2) ensure completion of the investigation into alleged misconduct in a timely manner consistent with the law enforcement agency's policies even if the licensee has separated from the law enforcement agency;

(3) submit a report of a completed investigation into alleged criminal misconduct for which criminal charges are filed against a licensee to the commission within 30 days after the investigation is completed on a form prescribed by the commission;

(4) submit a report of a completed investigation into alleged administrative misconduct to the commission in a timely manner, but not later than 30 days after the licensee's separation from the law enforcement agency, on a form prescribed by the commission;

(5) if the investigative findings or disciplinary action taken are appealed, notify the commission that the matter is under appeal and notify the commission of the disposition of an appeal within 30 days after receipt of the decision; and

(6) include documentation of the completed investigation in the licensee's personnel or department file, as appropriate.

(r) An agency chief administrator must:

(1) maintain a personnel file and department file for each licensee appointed with the law enforcement agency;

(2) submit to the commission a complete copy of the personnel file of a licensee within 30 days after separation of the licensee from the law enforcement agency in a manner prescribed by the commission; and

(3) submit to the commission a complete copy of the personnel file and department file of a licensee upon request as part of an ongoing investigation relating to the licensee.

(s) Except in the case of a commission error, an agency that wishes to report a change to any information within commission files about a licensee shall do so in a request to the commission, containing:

(1) the licensees name, date of birth, last four digits of the social security number, or PID;

(2) the requested change; and

(3) the reason for the change.

(t) An agency chief administrator may not appoint an applicant subject to pending administrative action based on:

(1) enrollment or licensure ineligibility; or

(2) statutory suspension or revocation.

(u) The effective date of this section is September 1, 2026.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 7, 2026.

TRD-202603356

Gregory Stevens

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Effective date: September 1, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 22, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7700

CHAPTER 218. CONTINUING EDUCATION

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (Commission) adopts amended 37 Texas Administrative Code §218.3, Legislatively Required Continuing Education for Licensees, with no changes to the proposed text as published in the May 22, 2026 issue of the Texas Register (51 TexReg 3539). The rule will not be republished.

This adopted amended rule conforms with the amendments to Texas Occupations Code §1701.253 and §1701.3525 made by Senate Bill 1852 (88R). It requires individuals licensed as a reserve law enforcement officer or as a public security officer to complete Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) continuing education every four-year cycle and ALERRT Level 1 not later than August 31, 2029.

Also, the adopted amended rule conforms with the addition of Texas Occupations Code §1701.3526 made by House Bill 33 (89R). It requires supervisors to complete an advanced incident response and command continuing education course each two-year training unit.

The public comment period began on May 22, 2026, and ended on June 25, 2026, at the conclusion of the public meeting of the Commission. No public comments were received.

The amended rule is adopted pursuant to Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, Texas Occupations Code §1701.253, School Curriculum, Texas Occupations Code §1701.3525, Active Shooter Response Training Required for Officers, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.3526, Continuing Education on Incident Response and Command. Texas Occupations Code §1701.151 authorizes the Commission to adopt rules for the administration of Occupations Code Chapter 1701 and to establish minimum standards relating to the competence and reliability, including the education, training, physical, and mental standards, for licensing as an officer, county jailer, or telecommunicator. Texas Occupations Code §1701.253 requires officers to complete ALERRT Level 1 not later than the end of the first full training period after licensure unless completed as part of a basic licensing course. Texas Occupations Code §1701.3525 requires officers to complete 16 hours of ALERRT continuing education each training period. Texas Occupations Code §1701.3526 requires peace officers whose duties involve the supervision of officers in an incident response to complete an advanced incident response and command continuing education course.

The amended rule as adopted affects or implements Texas Occupations Code §1701.151, General Powers of Commission; Rulemaking Authority, Texas Occupations Code §1701.253, School Curriculum, Texas Occupations Code §1701.3525, Active Shooter Response Training Required for Officers, and Texas Occupations Code §1701.3526, Continuing Education on Incident Response and Command. No other code, article, or statute is affected by this adoption.

The agency certifies that legal counsel has reviewed the adoption and found it to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on August 7, 2026.

TRD-202603357

Gregory Stevens

Executive Director

Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

Effective date: September 1, 2026

Proposal publication date: May 22, 2026

For further information, please call: (512) 936-7700