89R27797 JCG-D     By: Holt, et al. H.B. No. 3626     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3626:     By:  Hefner C.S.H.B. No. 3626       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to justices of the peace, including certain state benefits   and awards and membership on the First Responder Advisory Council.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 421.041(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The council is composed of:                (1)  one representative for each of the following   sectors of the state, appointed by the governor or the governor's   designee:                      (A)  law enforcement;                      (B)  firefighters;                      (C)  private first responders; and                      (D)  emergency medical services; [and]                (2)  a justice of the peace; and                (3)  other members, as determined by the governor or   the governor's designee.          SECTION 2.  Section 615.003, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 615.003.  APPLICABILITY. This chapter applies only to   eligible survivors of the following individuals:                (1)  an individual:                      (A)  elected, appointed, or employed as a peace   officer by the state or a political subdivision of the state under   Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, or other law; or                      (B)  employed as a peace officer by a private   institution of higher education, including a private junior   college, that is located in this state under Section 51.212,   Education Code;                (2)  a paid probation officer appointed by the director   of a community supervision and corrections department who has the   duties set out in Section 76.002 and the qualifications set out in   Section 76.005, or who was appointed in accordance with prior law;                (3)  a parole officer employed by the Texas Department   of Criminal Justice who has the duties set out in Section 508.001   and the qualifications set out in Section 508.113 or in prior law;                (4)  a paid jailer;                (5)  a member of an organized police reserve or   auxiliary unit who regularly assists peace officers in enforcing   criminal laws;                (6)  a member of the class of employees of the   correctional institutions division formally designated as   custodial personnel under Section 615.006 by the Texas Board of   Criminal Justice or its predecessor in function;                (7)  a jailer or guard of a county jail who is appointed   by the sheriff and who:                      (A)  performs a security, custodial, or   supervisory function over the admittance, confinement, or   discharge of prisoners; and                      (B)  is certified by the Texas Commission on Law   Enforcement;                (8)  a juvenile correctional employee of the Texas   Juvenile Justice Department;                (9)  an employee of the Department of Aging and   Disability Services or Department of State Health Services who:                      (A)  works at the department's maximum security   unit; or                      (B)  performs on-site services for the Texas   Department of Criminal Justice;                (10)  an individual who is employed by the state or a   political or legal subdivision and is subject to certification by   the Texas Commission on Fire Protection;                (11)  an individual employed by the state or a   political or legal subdivision whose principal duties are aircraft   crash and rescue fire fighting;                (12)  a member of an organized volunteer fire-fighting   unit that:                      (A)  renders fire-fighting services without   remuneration; and                      (B)  conducts a minimum of two drills each month,   each two hours long;                (13)  an individual who:                      (A)  performs emergency medical services or   operates an ambulance;                      (B)  is employed by a political subdivision of the   state or is an emergency medical services volunteer as defined by   Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code; and                      (C)  is qualified as an emergency care attendant   or at a higher level of training under Section 773.046, 773.047,   773.048, 773.049, or 773.0495, Health and Safety Code;                (14)  an individual who is employed or formally   designated as a chaplain for:                      (A)  an organized volunteer fire-fighting unit or   other fire department of this state or of a political subdivision of   this state;                      (B)  a law enforcement agency of this state or of a   political subdivision of this state; or                      (C)  the Texas Department of Criminal Justice;                (15)  an individual who is employed by the state or a   political subdivision of the state and who is considered by the   governmental employer to be a trainee for a position otherwise   described by this section;                (16)  an individual who is employed by the Department   of Public Safety and, as certified by the director, is:                      (A)  deployed into the field in direct support of   a law enforcement operation, including patrol, investigative,   search and rescue, crime scene, on-site communications, or special   operations; and                      (B)  given a special assignment in direct support   of operations relating to organized crime, criminal interdiction,   border security, counterterrorism, intelligence, traffic   enforcement, emergency management, regulatory services, or special   investigations; [or]                (17)  an individual who is employed by the Parks and   Wildlife Department and, as certified by the executive director of   the Parks and Wildlife Department, is:                      (A)  deployed into the field in direct support of   a law enforcement operation, including patrol, investigative,   search and rescue, crime scene, on-site communications, or special   operations; and                      (B)  given a special assignment in direct support   of operations relating to organized crime, criminal interdiction,   border security, counterterrorism, intelligence, traffic   enforcement, emergency management, regulatory services, or special   investigations; or                (18)  a justice of the peace.          SECTION 3.  Chapter 3106, Government Code, is amended by   adding Section 3106.0045 to read as follows:          Sec. 3106.0045.  STAR OF TEXAS AWARD FOR JUSTICES OF THE   PEACE.  (a)  The Star of Texas Award for Justices of the Peace shall   be awarded to:                (1)  each justice of the peace who is seriously injured   in the line of duty; and                (2)  the surviving next of kin of each justice of the   peace who is killed or sustains a fatal injury in the line of duty.          (b)  The Star of Texas Award for Justices of the Peace   Advisory Committee shall advise the governor on the issuance,   design, and presentation of the award.          (c)  The committee consists of three current or retired   justices of the peace appointed by the governor.          SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act to Chapter   615, Government Code, applies only in relation to a death that   occurs on or after the effective date of this Act.  Matters   regarding eligibility, payment, and benefits under Chapter 615,   Government Code, in relation to a death that occurs before the   effective date of this Act are governed by the law in effect when   the death occurs, and the former law is continued in effect for that   purpose.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.