BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1155
                                            By: Telford (Ratliff)
                                                 Criminal Justice
                                                          4-28-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

In 1994, St. Michael's Hospital moved from Texarkana, Arkansas to
Texarkana, Texas.  No hospital remains in Texarkana, Arkansas.  In
the past, when an Arkansas inmate needed medical attention, an
Arkansas peace officer could take the person to St. Michael's for
treatment.  Currently, Texas peace officers are required to assist
Arkansas officers in transporting inmates to St. Michael's
hospital.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1155 authorizes peace officers of states
neighboring Texas to have the same powers, duties, and immunities
as Texas peace officers, but only while transporting an inmate from
a neighboring county to and from a hospital in Texas.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding
Article 2.124, as follows:

     Art. 2.124.  PEACE OFFICERS FROM ADJOINING STATES.  Provides
     that a commissioned peace officer of a U.S. state adjoining
     this state, while the officer is in this state, has the same
     powers, duties, and immunities of a peace officer of this
     state who is acting in the discharge of an official duty, but
     only during the time that the peace officer is transporting
     certain inmates or defendants and to the extent necessary to
     maintain physical custody of the person during transport
     either to or from a hospital or other medical facility in a
     border county.
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.