Among its duties, TCOLE grants peace officer, county jailer, and public security officer licenses after minimum standards are met or suspends or revokes licenses for noncompliance, verifies that continuing education requirements are fulfilled, promulgates requirements for obtaining proficiency certificates, and regulates police academies.
The TCOLE Board of Commissioners formulates agency policies and makes recommendations to the Governor of Texas and the Legislature regarding related matters.
Its nine members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Texas Senate, to serve without pay for staggered, six-year terms.
In 2004, the current BPOC standards were implemented, which call for a minimum of 618 hours of instruction for new peace officer licenses.
[4] The Texas Sunset Commission is charged with recommending if a public need exists for the continuation of each state agency or its advisory committees or for the performance of their functions.