Criminal Justice

HB 192 authorizes sheriffs and constables in Texas counties with over 3.3 million residents to directly contract with local governments, property owners' associations, or landowners to provide law enforcement services. The bill allows these officials to establish service agreements for specific areas they manage or regulate, covering residents and visitors in those zones. Crucially, it prohibits county commissioners courts from blocking or restricting such contracts, giving sheriffs and constables full authority to set contract terms without approval. This changes how law enforcement funding operates in large counties by enabling direct service agreements outside traditional county commission oversight.

HB 15 would require Texas law enforcement agencies to maintain confidential "department files" for each employee who holds a law enforcement license. These files must include documents about alleged misconduct (even if unproven) and other relevant letters or memos not in standard personnel files. Agencies could share these files with other agencies when hiring license holders but must keep them confidential otherwise, except for specific legal requests like investigations. The bill aims to standardize how agencies handle sensitive information about licensed employees while protecting privacy.

SB 15 requires Texas law enforcement agencies to create and maintain confidential "department files" for each employee who holds a license (such as a peace officer or security officer). These files must include documents about employee conduct - like unproven misconduct allegations - that aren't in regular personnel records, and must be kept separate from those files. Agencies can share these files with the licensing commission for hiring reviews or investigations, but otherwise the files are confidential and exempt from public disclosure under Texas law. The bill applies directly to all law enforcement agencies employing licensed personnel and takes effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.