School-district leaders may let the chief appoint reserve police officers, set a cap on how many may be appointed, and control when certain reserve officers may carry weapons or act as peace officers.
Sec. 37.0816. RESERVE POLICE OFFICERS. (a) The board of trustees of a school district may authorize the chief of police of the school district police department to appoint reserve police officers for the district. The board may limit the number of reserve police officers that the chief may appoint. (b) A reserve police officer serves at the discretion of the chief of police of the school district police department and may be called into service at any time that the chief considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law. (c) The chief of police of a school district police department may authorize a reserve police officer who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, to carry a weapon or act as a peace officer at all times, regardless of whether the reserve police officer is engaged in the actual discharge of official duties, or may limit the authority of the reserve police officer to carry a weapon or act as a peace officer to only those times during which the reserve police officer is engaged in the actual discharge of official duties. (d) A reserve police officer who does not hold a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, may act as a peace officer only: (1) if the officer has fulfilled all applicable requirements under Sections 1701.351 and 1701.3525, Occupations Code; and (2) during the actual discharge of official duties. (e) A reserve police officer on active duty at the call of the chief of police of the school district police department and actively engaged in assigned duties has the same rights, privileges, and duties as any other peace officer of the state. (f) A reserve police officer, regardless of whether the reserve police officer holds a permanent peace officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is not: (1) eligible for participation in any program provided by the agency or the board of trustees of the school district that is normally considered a financial benefit of full-time employment or for any pension fund created by statute for the benefit of full-time paid peace officers; or (2) exempt from Chapter 1702, Occupations Code. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 558 (H.B. 1458), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2025.