JWW H.B. 1455 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS PUBLIC SAFETY H.B. 1455 By: Kuempel 4-28-97 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND In 1995, the 74th Legislature passed H.B. 713, relating to the regulation of private investigators and private security agencies, which included a last minute Senate amendment. This amendment provided that the definition of "detection device" should include common electronic locks found on building doors and gates. With the addition of this amendment to the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act, the law could be interpreted to force locksmiths to be licensed by the agency for installation of simple electronic locks. PURPOSE This bill clarifies the statute to delete references to electronic devices used to limit access under the definition of "detection device" in the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1 Amends Section 2(33), Article 4413 (29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes, by removing electronic devices that limit access into a building or gate from the definition of detection device. SECTION 2 Effective Date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3 Emergency Clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Amendment #1 removes the type-over which limits the definition of detection device. Language is added to the end of Subdivision (33) which states that electronic devices which strictly limit access (and nothing more) are not included in the definition of a detection device.