1. (a) The executive director or the executive director's designee may authorize employees of the department to transport offenders and to apprehend escapees from any division of the department. An employee acting under authority granted by the executive director has the same powers and duties as a peace officer under the laws of this state, except that the employee may not act without receiving express orders from the executive director or the executive director's designee, and may exercise those powers and perform those duties throughout the state.
2. (b) The department may allow employees who are granted law enforcement authority under this section to assist peace officers in any county of the state if the assistance is requested for the purpose of apprehending an escapee of a municipal or county jail and if the department determines that the assistance will not jeopardize the safety and security of the department and its personnel. An employee who assists a peace officer in the performance of the officer's duties has the same powers and duties as the officer requesting assistance.
3. (c) An employee of the department may not enforce the laws of this state relating to the prevention of misdemeanors and the detention of persons who commit misdemeanors, including laws regulating traffic and the use of state highways.
4. (d) An employee described by Subsection (a) may not be considered a peace officer for any purposes other than those specified under this section and is not required to be certified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 212, Sec. 2.01, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Renumbered from Sec. 493.009 and amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., ch. 16, Sec. 10.01(a), eff. Aug. 26, 1991;

Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 988, Sec. 1.04, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.

Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 322, Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 1999.