(a) The commissioner may:
(1) employ investigators as necessary to enforce this chapter; and
(2) commission those investigators as peace officers.
(b) If the commissioner commissions investigators as peace officers, the commissioner shall appoint a chief investigator who:
(1) is commissioned as a peace officer; and
(2) is qualified by training and experience in law enforcement to supervise, direct, and administer the activities of the commissioned investigators.
(c) An investigator employed by the department as a peace officer must meet the requirements for a peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code.
(d) The commissioner shall ensure that a peace officer commissioned under Subsection (a) is compensated according to Schedule C of the position classification salary schedule prescribed by the General Appropriations Act.