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.