Rumors Re: Changes in CHL Procedures in March

[Charles L. Cotton]

I wanted to let everyone know that I have again talked with the DPS Captain running the CHL Division and reconfirmed that there are no changes coming to the CHL program in March. Everything you have heard to the contrary is false.

I have an email from DPS at home providing specific answers to some of the rumors and I forgot to forward it to my office. I'll post it later this evening. Here are the claims I have confirmed to be false:

• 1. A 200 question computerized text (DPS or Internet) will be required for all CHL applications. FALSE
  
  • DPS is not going to a computerized test for CHL holders. The law changed effective Sept. 1st and DPS is now required to develop a test for CHL Instructors seeking to renew their certification. This test is required to be offered online and consideration is being given to structuring it such that it randomly draws questions from a pool of 200 questions. This will not apply to CHL's.
  2. CHL applicants will have to apply online and pass a background check, before receiving "permission/clearance" to take the CHL course. After completing the course, they will have to go elsewhere to take the written test. FALSE.
  
  • DPS does not have the authority to determine who can and cannot take the CHL course. DPS will not conduct a background check until an applicant has successfully passed the CHL test.
  3. The fee for CHL's is going up; $200 has been mentioned repeatedly. FALSE.
  
  • All CHL related fees are set by statute and any changes must come from the Texas Legislature.
  4. DPS is going to require only digital fingerprints (as of March). PARTIALLY FALSE
  
  • DPS is strongly encouraging applicants to submit digital fingerprints, but they are not going to be required by March. There are several issues that DPS must deal with before making a final decision as to whether digital fingerprints will ever become mandatory and if so, when.
  5. It is going to be much more difficult and expensive to get a CHL as of March. FALSE.
  
  • This is such a vague and ambiguous claim that it is impossible to address with specificity. The bottom line is nothing is changing in March, so there is no basis for saying the acquisition of a CHL (new or renewal) is going to be either more difficult or expensive.

I hope this helps to put these rumors to rest.

Chas.

[tboesche]

Charles,
Thanks for the update

[Greybeard]

Ya Chas, thanks for the update. Regarding #4, when I spoke with a female honch there years ago about what was to be expected in the future, she indicated that the digital photo taken by the FAST people might even be used for the CHL. I'm needing to order another supply of passport photo film now, but have been holding off doing so, not wanting to have unnnecessary money invested in it, like a bunch of instructor's did when they eliminated the $5 TR-100s.