SRC-PNG H.B. 1168 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1168
76R2419 PAM-DBy: Thompson (Ellis)
Intergovernmental Relations
5/10/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, many courthouses throughout the state maintain security
checkpoints to prevent weapons and other items from entering the
courthouse.  Many counties provide employee identification cards which
allow employees to bypass security checkpoints.  However, many other people
entering the courthouse are frequent visitors and are also not security
risks.  This bill would authorize a county commissioners court to issue
identification cards which permit certain individuals to enter into certain
county buildings without passing through security checkpoints, and
authorizes a fee for those identification cards. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 1168 authorizes a county  commissioners court to issue
identification cards which permit certain individuals to enter into certain
county buildings without passing through security checkpoints, and
authorizes a fee for those identification cards. 

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 291, Local Government Code, by adding Section
291.010, as follows: 

Sec.  291.010.  SECURITY SERVICES IDENTIFICATION CARDS.  Authorizes a
county commissioners court to sanction the issuance of an identification
card which permits individuals to enter into a county building that houses
a justice court, county court, county court at law, or district court
without passing through the security services provided under Article
102.017, Code of Criminal Procedure and to set a fee for the issuance of
the identification card to individuals other than county employees.
Requires the commissioners court to adopt standards for issuing an
identification card described by this section to ensure public safety and
security. 

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