BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1517

By: Hernandez

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that the Houston Police Department would benefit from assistance in enforcing municipal ordinances. C.S.H.B. 1517 provides for such enforcement by the sheriff or a constable of Harris County within the portion of the municipality located in the county the sheriff or constable serves.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1517 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a sheriff and a constable of a county with a population of more than four million to enforce an ordinance adopted by the governing body of a municipality if the municipality and the county commissioners court have entered into a written agreement authorizing the sheriff or constable to enforce that ordinance. The sheriff and constable may only enforce such an ordinance within the portion of the municipality located in the county the sheriff or constable serves.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2025.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1517 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute provides for enforcement of municipal ordinances in the applicable portion of the municipality by both a sheriff of the county and a constable of the county, whereas the introduced provided for enforcement in the applicable portion of the municipality only by a constable.