Law enforcement agencies must adopt physical fitness programs and standards, use a consultant to help develop the standards, and adopt a reward policy with administrative leave incentives. Officers must participate in the program and meet the standards, but agencies may exempt officers in individual cases and may set independent readiness standards.
Sec. 614.172. PHYSICAL FITNESS PROGRAMS AND STANDARDS. (a) Each law enforcement agency shall adopt physical fitness programs that a law enforcement officer must participate in and physical fitness standards that a law enforcement officer must meet. The standards as applied to an officer must directly relate to the officer's job duties and shall include individual fitness goals specific to the officer's age and gender. A law enforcement agency shall use the services of a consultant to aid the agency in developing the standards. (a-1) Each law enforcement agency shall adopt a reward policy that provides for reward incentives to officers who participate in the program and meet the standards adopted under Subsection (a). The reward incentives under the policy must be an amount of administrative leave of not more than four days per year. (a-2) An agency may adopt physical readiness standards independent of other law enforcement agencies. (b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), a violation of a standard adopted under Subsection (a) is just cause to discharge an officer or: (1) transfer an officer to a position that is not compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act; or (2) for a law enforcement officer employed by the Parks and Wildlife Department and compensated according to Schedule B of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act, transfer the officer to a position that does not require the employee to be a commissioned peace officer. (c) A law enforcement agency may exempt a law enforcement officer from participating in a program or meeting a standard under Subsection (a) based on the facts and circumstances of the individual case, including whether an officer was injured in the line of duty. Added by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1159 (H.B. 12), Sec. 13, eff. September 1, 2007. Renumbered from Government Code, Section 614.152 by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 87 (S.B. 1969), Sec. 27.001(41), eff. September 1, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1146 (H.B. 2730), Sec. 6.05, eff. September 1, 2009. SUBCHAPTER K. INSURANCE COVERAGE REQUIRED FOR VOLUNTEER POLICE FORCE MEMBERS