SRC-DPW H.B. 1121 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1121 By: Counts (Duncan) Criminal Justice 4/27/1999 Engrossed DIGEST Currently, Texas law does not include investigators of a district attorney's, criminal district attorney's, or county attorney's office in the definition of a "law enforcement officer." It has been cited that such investigators require inclusion in the definition of a "law enforcement officer" in order to fulfill their assignments. This bill would include such investigators in the definition of a "law enforcement officer" and revise the law enforcement authority of certain investigators acting outside their county of jurisdiction. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 1121 revises the law enforcement authority of certain investigators acting outside their county of jurisdiction. 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 Section 362.001(2), Local Government Code, to redefine "law enforcement officer." SECTION 2. Amends Article 14.03(g), Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize a person listed in Subdivision (1), (2), (3), (4), or (5), Article 2.12, who is licensed under Chapter 415, Government Code, to arrest a person who commits an offense in the presence of the officer, except that an officer who is outside the officer's jurisdiction may arrest a person for a violation of Title 7C, Transportation Code (Rules of the road), rather than Article 6701d, V.T.C.S. (the Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways), only if the officer is listed in Subdivision (4), Article 2.12. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.