SRC-JJJ H.B. 525 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 525
76R2142 JMC-DBy: McReynolds (Nixon)
Criminal Justice
4/26/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, special agents and law enforcement officers of the United States
Forest Service have the right to arrest and search a person if they have
probable cause to believe a felony has been committed.  H.B. 525 would
limit these officers to the powers of arrest, search and seizure as to any
crime committed in a national forest. 
 
PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 525 establishes conditions granting limited state law
enforcement authority to special agents and law enforcement officers of the
United States Forest Service. 

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 Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), to establish that a Special Agent
or Law Enforcement Officer of the United States Forest Service is not a
peace officer, except that the agent or officer has the powers to arrest,
search and seizure as to any offense committed within the National Forest
System.  Defines "National Forest System."  Deletes text regarding Special
Agent or Law Enforcement Officer of the United States Forest Service.
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.