Text of article effective on January 01, 2025
Art. 2A.006.  SPECIAL RANGERS OF TEXAS AND SOUTHWESTERN CATTLE RAISERS ASSOCIATION.  (a)  In this article:
(1)  "Association" means the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
(2)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
(3)  "Department" means the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas.
(b)  The director of the department may appoint not more than 50 special rangers employed by the association to aid law enforcement agencies in the investigation of the theft of livestock or related property.
(c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), a special ranger may make arrests and exercise all authority given peace officers under this code when necessary to prevent or abate the commission of an offense involving livestock or related property.
(d)  A special ranger may not issue a traffic citation for a violation of Chapter 521, Transportation Code, or Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation Code.
(e)  A special ranger is not entitled to state benefits normally provided by the state to a peace officer.
(f)  A person may not serve as a special ranger unless:
(1)  the association submits the person's application for appointment and licensing as a special ranger to the director of the department and to the executive director of the commission;
(2)  the director of the department issues the person a certificate of authority to act as a special ranger;
(3)  the executive director of the commission:
(A)  determines that the person meets minimum standards required of peace officers by the commission relating to competence, reliability, education, training, morality, and physical and mental health; and
(B)  issues the person a license as a special ranger; and
(4)  the person has met all standards for licensing as a peace officer by the commission.
(g)  For good cause, the director of the department may revoke a certificate of authority issued under this article and the executive director of the commission may revoke a license issued under this article.
(h)  Termination of employment with the association, or the revocation of a special ranger license, constitutes an automatic revocation of a certificate of authority to act as a special ranger.
(i)  The association is liable for any act or omission by a person serving as a special ranger for the association that occurs within the scope of the person's employment.
(j)  The state or any political subdivision or agency of the state is not liable for any act or omission by a person appointed as a special ranger.
(k)  The association shall pay all expenses associated with granting or revoking a certificate of authority to act as a special ranger.
(l)  The director of the department and the executive director of the commission may adopt rules necessary for the effective administration and performance of the duties delegated to the director and the executive director by this article.
Added by Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 1.001, eff. January 1, 2025.