SRC-SLL S.B. 732 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 732 By: Galloway Jurisprudence 4-21-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, housing authorities are not authorized to employ and commission their own security personnel. Housing authorities often have serious security concerns. But with shrinking federal dollars, it is difficult to fund off-duty police officers at $20-$25 an hour for basic services. Hiring their own security officers could help these authorities reduce costs while keeping the housing safer. This bill will grant a housing authority the authority to employ and commission peace officers. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 732 grants a housing authority the authority to employ and commission peace officers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 392D, Local Government Code, by adding Section 392.066, as follows: Sec. 392.066. SECURITY PERSONNEL; PEACE OFFICERS. Authorizes a public corporation created under this Act (authority) to employ security personnel and to commission its security personnel as peace officers for the purpose of protecting certain persons and property. Sets forth the primary jurisdiction of a peace officer commissioned under this section. Sets forth powers of a peace officer commissioned under this section in the peace officer's primary jurisdiction. Provides that, outside a peace officer's primary jurisdiction, a peace officer commissioned under this section has the powers, privileges, and immunities of a peace officer and may arrest a person who violates a law of this state in certain circumstances. Prohibits a person employed as security personnel from being commissioned as a peace officer under this section unless the person obtains a license as a peace officer from the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education under Chapter 415, Government Code. SECTION 2. Amends Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, to provide that officers commissioned by the governing body of a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108, Transportation Code, rather than Section 13, Article 1118x, V.T.C.S., or by a regional authority under Section 452.110, Transportation Code, rather than Section 10, Article 1118y, V.T.C.S., are peace officers. Provides that security personnel commissioned as peace officers under Chapter 392, Local Government Code, are peace officers. Deletes text providing that officers commissioned under the Texas High Speed Rail Act are peace officers. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.