By Corte                                        H.B. No. 2285

      75R5115 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the ability of a commissioners court of a county to

 1-3     determine county courthouse security policies.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 291.003, Local Government Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 291.003.  CONTROL OF COURTHOUSE AND COURTHOUSE SECURITY

 1-8     POLICY.  (a)  The county sheriff shall have charge and control of

 1-9     the county courthouse, subject to the regulations of the

1-10     commissioners court.

1-11           (b)  The commissioners court of a county may regulate

1-12     participation in any county courthouse security program and may

1-13     require any employee of the county or any county officer to

1-14     participate in any county courthouse security program, including a

1-15     program in which a metal detector or X-ray security system is used.

1-16           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-17     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-18     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

1-19     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

1-20     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

1-21     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

1-22     passage, and it is so enacted.