By: Alders H.B. No. 3394       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the appointment of deputy constables.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sec. 86.011, Local Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  The appointment of a deputy constable must be in writing   [An elected constable who desires to appoint a deputy must apply in   writing to the commissioners court of the county and show that it is   necessary to appoint a deputy in order to properly handle the   business of the constable's office that originates in the   constable's precinct. The application must state the name of the   proposed deputy. The commissioners court shall approve and confirm   the appointment of the deputy only if the commissioners court   determines that the constable needs a deputy to handle the business   originating in the precinct].          (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a person appointed   as a deputy, before beginning to perform the duties of office, must   take and subscribe the official oath, which, together with the   certificate of the officer administering the oath, must be endorsed   on the appointment. The appointment and oath shall be deposited and   recorded in the county clerk's office. A list of the appointments   shall be posted in a conspicuous place in that office.          (c)  A person reappointed as a deputy may continue to perform   the duties of office before retaking the official oath. The deputy   must retake the oath as soon as possible after being reappointed.          (d)  A deputy serves at the pleasure of the constable. The   constable may revoke the appointment of a deputy on the indictment   of the deputy for a felony.          (e) [(b)]  Each deputy constable must qualify in the manner   provided for deputy sheriffs under Section 85.003.          (f) [(c)]  The constable is responsible for the official   acts of each deputy of the constable. The constable may require a   deputy to post a bond or security. A constable may exercise any   remedy against a deputy or the deputy's surety that a person may   exercise against the constable or the constable's surety.          (g) [(d)]  A person commits an offense if the person[:                [(1)]  serves as a deputy constable and the person has   not been appointed as provided by Subsection (a)[; or                [(2)  is a constable and issues a deputyship without   the consent and approval of the commissioners court].          (h) [(e)]  An offense under Subsection (g) [(d)] is   punishable by a fine of not less than $50 or more than $1,000.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.