1. (a) Fire protection personnel who are appointed arson investigation duties must be certified, as a minimum, as a basic arson investigator as specified in §431.3 of this title (relating to Minimum Standards for Basic Arson Investigator Certification) within one year from the date of initial appointment to such position.
2. (b) Prior to being appointed to arson investigation duties, fire protection personnel must complete a commission approved basic fire investigator training program, successfully pass the commission examination pertaining to that curriculum, and possess a current peace officer license from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education or document that the individual is a federal law enforcement officer.
3. (c) Personnel holding any level of arson investigation certification shall be required to comply with the continuing education requirements in §441.15 of this title (relating to Continuing Education for Arson Investigator or Fire Investigator).

Source Note:The provisions of this §431.1 adopted to be effective November 1, 1998, 23 TexReg 10897; amended to be effective December 24, 2002, 27 TexReg 12007; amended to be effective March 10, 2011, 36 TexReg 1688.