Sec. 85.004. RESERVE DEPUTIES

(a) The commissioners court of a county may authorize the sheriff to appoint reserve deputy sheriffs. The commissioners court may limit the number of reserve deputies that may be appointed.

(b) A reserve deputy serves at the discretion of the sheriff and may be called into service if the sheriff considers it necessary to have additional officers to preserve the peace and enforce the law. The sheriff may authorize a reserve deputy who is a peace officer as described by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, to carry a weapon or act as a peace officer at all times, regardless of whether the reserve deputy is engaged in the actual discharge of official duties, or may limit the authority of the reserve deputy to carry a weapon or act as a peace officer to only those times during which the reserve deputy is engaged in the actual discharge of official duties. A reserve deputy who is not a peace officer as described by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, may act as a peace officer only during the actual discharge of official duties. A reserve deputy, regardless of whether the reserve deputy is a peace officer as described by Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, is not:

(1) eligible for participation in any program provided by the county 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.

(c) A reserve deputy, before beginning to perform the duties of office and at the time of appointment, must file an oath and execute and file a bond in the amount of $2,000 payable to the sheriff. The oath and bond shall be filed with the county clerk.

(d) A reserve deputy on active duty at the call of the sheriff and actively engaged in assigned duties has the same rights, privileges, and duties as any other peace officer of the state.

(e) The sheriff of a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico may organize some of the reserve deputies to serve as marine reserve deputies and lifeguards for beach and water safety purposes and other related functions as the sheriff may determine. A reserve deputy performing functions under this subsection is subject to the laws of this state that relate to reserve deputies except that they may not carry firearms in the performance of their duties.

(f) An organization formed under Subsection (e) may include both paid and unpaid deputies and reserve deputies. The organization may accept contributions and gifts from foundations, individuals, corporations, and governmental entities, including appropriations by the state on a direct or matching fund basis, to assist the county in providing water safety programs in the interest of the health, safety, and welfare of persons using the coastal water of this state.

(g) The county or sheriff is not liable, because of the appointment of a reserve deputy, if the reserve deputy incurs personal injury while serving in an official capacity.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 90, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, Sec. 14.820, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.