HBA-BSM H.B. 3495 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3495 By: Isett State Recreational Resources 4/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, game warden applicants must have successfully completed a bachelor's level degree from an accredited college or university. The education policy does not take into consideration any work or background experience before assessing requirements. However, other state law enforcement agencies such as the Department of Public Safety do take prior law enforcement experience into consideration before requiring up to 60 semester hours from an accredited college or university. The qualified applicant pool for game wardens has been steadily decreasing, House Bill 3495 addresses this situation to provide a larger qualified applicant pool for game wardens by providing that educational requirements for game wardens are not to exceed the educational requirements of Department of Public Safety officers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3495 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to require the executive director of the Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure that the educational qualifications required of an applicant for the position of game warden do not exceed those required of an applicant for a position as an officer with the Department of Public Safety. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.