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.
- Part 7 -- Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Main Page
- Chapter 211 -- Administration (definitions used throughout the rules and agency requirements)
- Chapter 215 -- Training and Educational Providers (requirements for training providers and training coordinators)
- Chapter 217 -- Enrollment, Licensing, Appointment, and Separation (minimum standards for enrollment or licensure and requirements for appointment and separation)
- Chapter 218 -- Continuing Education (continuing education requirements)
- Chapter 219 -- Prelicensing, Reactivation, Tests, and Endorsements (licensing exam requirements)
- Chapter 221 -- Proficiency Certificates (proficiency certificate requirements)
- Chapter 223 -- Enforcement (actions taken by Commission against licensees and agencies)
- Chapter 225 -- Specialized Licenses (requirements for contract jailers and medical peace officers)
- Chapter 227 -- School Marshals (requirements for school marshals and ISDs)
- Chapter 229 -- Texas Peace Officers' Memorial Monument (requirements for inclusion on the Memorial)
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 Rules | Get File | Texas Register Issue | Commission Meeting Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proposed Rule 221.21 (Amended) | July 31, 2026 | September 2-3, 2026 | Would 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 Rules | Get File | Texas Register Issue | Effective Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule 211.1 (Amended) | May 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Adds new definitions for administrative duty pay status and Public Information Officer (PIO). | |
| Rule 211.30 (Amended) | May 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Expands 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, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Requires 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, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Clarifies 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, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Exempts 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, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Establishes a mental health proficiency certificate for telecommunicators. | |
| Rule 221.33 (Amended) | May 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Updates and clarifies the requirements to obtain and requalify for a Standardized Field Sobriety Testing instructor proficiency certificate. | |
| Rule 221.48 (New) | May 22, 2026 | June 1, 2026 | Establishes a Public Information Officer (PIO) certificate. | |
| Rule 211.1 (Amended) | October 24, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | New 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, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | Requires 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, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | Creation 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, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | Requires a training coordinator to report to TCOLE the separation of a student from a basic licensing course. | |
| Rule 223.19 (Amended) | October 24, 2025 | November 1, 2025 | Requires 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, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | Requires PHS and background investigation report for misdemeanor waiver request packets. | |
| Rule 217.7 (Amended) | July 25, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | Requires fingerprint-based criminal background check for all appointments. |
TCOLE Statutes and Rules Handbook
The Rules Process
Additional information about Administrative Rules and Open Meetings is available at the Texas Register website: Texas Register