By Alexander H.B. No. 2589 74R115 JMM-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the prohibition of certain acts by a locksmith; 1-3 providing a penalty. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-6 (1) "Key" includes a copy of a key and the directions for 1-7 making a key. 1-8 (2) "Locksmith" means a person who, for compensation, 1-9 installs, repairs, replaces, rebuilds, rearranges, or adjusts a 1-10 lock or the mechanical parts of a lock. The term includes a person 1-11 engaged in the adjustment of a lock in a safe, vault, or vehicle or 1-12 in the installation of a lock in a building under construction. 1-13 SECTION 2. MAINTAINING COPY OF KEY PROHIBITED. (a) Except 1-14 as provided by Subsection (b), a locksmith may not maintain or give 1-15 to another person a key made or copied by the locksmith. 1-16 (b) This section does not apply to a key given to: 1-17 (1) the person or an agent of the person for whom the 1-18 key was made; or 1-19 (2) the owner of the building in which the lock opened 1-20 by the key is located. 1-21 SECTION 3. OFFENSE; PENALTY. (a) A person commits an 1-22 offense if the person violates this Act. 1-23 (b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor. 1-24 SECTION 4. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 2-1 1, 1995. 2-2 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 2-3 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.