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Commission Statutes and Rules

Current Statutes

The Commission is empowered by statute to create rules for the regulation of law enforcement agencies and licensees by the Occupations Code, Title 10, Occupations Related to Law Enforcement and Security, Chapter 1701, Law Enforcement Officers.  A link to this chapter is provided below from the Texas Constitution and Statutes website. 

Current Rules

Commission rules are divided into chapters that group similar topics together in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 37, Public Safety and Corrections, Part 7, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.  Links to these chapters with a brief description are provided below from the Texas Secretary of State's Texas Administrative Code website.  

Public Comment: Proposed Rules

Proposed rules are open for public comment.  Public comments may be submitted electronically to public.comment@tcole.texas.gov or in writing to Mr. John Beauchamp, General Counsel, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, 6330 East Highway 290, Suite 200, Austin, TX 78723-1035.  The proposed rules will be considered for adoption during the listed Commission Meeting.

Proposed RulesTexas Register IssueCommission Meeting DateDescription
Proposed Rule 221.21 (Amended)July 31, 2026September 2-3, 2026Would remove the requirements for community supervision and corrections department officers and parole officers to recertify firearms proficiency every year and to renew the certificate every two years.

Adopted Rules

These are new, amended, or repealed rules that have recently been finally adopted by the Commission.

Adopted RulesTexas Register IssueEffective DateDescription
Rule 211.16 (Amended)August 21, 2026September 1, 2026Requires each agency to have a breaching tool and ballistic shield and certain agencies to have a Public Information Officer. Clarifies requirements for an agency's active shooter policy and communications equipment requirements. Provides guidance for determining if an agency provides public benefit to the community and describes the process for creating a new agency or deactivating an existing agency.
Rule 211.29 (Amended)August 21, 2026September 1, 2026Requires chief administrators to timely submit a preliminary and final report that evaluates an agency's response to an active shooter incident at a school. Requires a chief administrator to timely report to TCOLE completion of personnel orientation and field training by a licensee and that certain individuals do not meet the minimum standards for enrollment or initial licensure.
Rule 218.3 (Amended)August 21, 2026September 1, 2026Requires supervisors to complete advanced incident response and command continuing education each 2-year training unit. Requires individuals licensed as a reserve law enforcement officer or public security officer to complete ALERRT continuing education each 4-year cycle and to complete ALERRT Level 1 by August 31, 2029.
Rule 223.20 (New)August 28, 2026September 1, 2026Permits TCOLE to suspend a license for up to 90 days if the person constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare.
Rule 211.1 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Adds new definitions for administrative duty pay status and Public Information Officer (PIO).
Rule 211.30 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Expands the range of offenses for which a waiver could be requested to include disqualifying Class C misdemeanor offenses and updates the waiver process.
Rule 217.1 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Requires issuance of a 180-day provisional license to a military service member, military veteran, or military spouse who is currently licensed in another state or has a TCOLE license that went inactive in the last 5 years.
Rule 219.11 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Clarifies that license reactivation prerequisites are determined by the number of years since the licensee's last full-time service appointment.
Rule 221.1 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Exempts applicants for the Public Information Officer (PIO) certificate from needing an active license or appointment to obtain the certificate.
Rule 221.12 (New)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Establishes a mental health proficiency certificate for telecommunicators.
Rule 221.33 (Amended)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Updates and clarifies the requirements to obtain and requalify for a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor proficiency certificate.
Rule 221.48 (New)May 22, 2026June 1, 2026Establishes a Public Information Officer (PIO) certificate.
Rule 211.1 (Amended)October 24, 2025November 1, 2025New definitions for full-time peace officer, part-time peace officer, and reserve law enforcement officer for categorizing appointment types.
Rule 211.29 (Amended)October 24, 2025November 1, 2025Requires investigation and submission of reports to TCOLE for allegations of misconduct. Requires maintenance and submission to TCOLE of personnel and department files.
Rule 215.8 (New)October 24, 2025November 1, 2025Creation of minimum standards and training requirements for individuals to be appointed as a training coordinator over a basic licensing course.
Rule 215.9 (Amended)October 24, 2025November 1, 2025Requires a training coordinator to report to TCOLE the separation of a student from a basic licensing course.
Rule 223.19 (Amended)October 24, 2025November 1, 2025Requires license revocation for abuse of office offenses under Penal Code Chapter 39. Allows license revocation for offenses committed against vulnerable persons or offenses involving cruelty to animals.
Rule 211.30 (Amended)July 25, 2025August 1, 2025Requires PHS and background investigation report for misdemeanor waiver request packets.
Rule 217.7 (Amended)July 25, 2025August 1, 2025Requires fingerprint-based criminal background check for all appointments.

Rule Guidance

ResourceDescription
New Agency Application ProcessA flow chart for the application process to create a new agency as outlined in Rule 211.16

TCOLE Statutes and Rules Handbook

TCOLE Statutes and Rules Handbook 2025

The Rules Process

Additional information about Administrative Rules and Open Meetings is available at the Texas Register website: Texas Register