BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1449
	By: Miles
	Local Government
	4/17/2023
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Workplace violence at hospitals experienced by hospital employees at the hands of patients and patient family members is on the rise. There have been numerous reports of nurses and medical support staff being physically assaulted while trying to perform their jobs. While the Harris County Sheriff's Office currently provides security at county healthcare facilities, issues still persist due to staff shortages in law enforcement.

S.B. 1449 grants the Harris County Hospital District the authority to employ and commission peace officers. Upon passage, S.B. 1449 would allow Harris County Hospital District to join other hospital districts in Texas, such as the Dallas County Hospital District and the Tarrant County Hospital District, which already have the authority to employ and commission peace officers.

As proposed, S.B. 1449 amends current law relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 281.057(a), Health and Safety Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes the board of certain hospital districts, including the Harris County Hospital District, to employ and commission peace officers for the district. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

SECTION 2. Amends Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, as follows:

Art. 2.12. WHO ARE PEACE OFFICERS. Provides that the following are peace officers:

(1)-(16) makes no changes to these subdivisions;

(17) officers commissioned by:

(A) the board of managers certain hospital districts, including the Harris County Hospital District, under Section 281.057 (Employment of District Peace Officers), Health and Safety Code; and

(B)-(D) makes no changes to these paragraphs; and

(18)-(34) makes no changes to these subdivisions.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage to September 1, 2023.