By Coleman                                            H.B. No. 3530
         76R6430 PEP-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to providing privacy for certain interviews between
 1-3     licensed private investigators and persons confined in a
 1-4     correctional facility.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Section 501.010, Government Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
 1-8           (d)  The visitation policy shall include procedures under
 1-9     which a private investigator, on presenting proof that the
1-10     investigator is licensed under the Private Investigators and
1-11     Private Security Agencies Act (Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas
1-12     Civil Statutes), is provided, to the extent feasible, a private
1-13     area in which to visit an inmate for the purpose of interviewing
1-14     the inmate and obtaining a taped or written statement from the
1-15     inmate.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Section 507.030, Government Code, is amended by
1-17     adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-18           (c)  The visitation policy shall include procedures under
1-19     which a private investigator, on presenting proof that the
1-20     investigator is licensed under the Private Investigators and
1-21     Private Security Agencies Act (Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas
1-22     Civil Statutes), is provided, to the extent feasible, a private
1-23     area in which to visit a person confined in a state jail felony
1-24     facility for the purpose of interviewing the person and obtaining a
 2-1     taped or written statement from the person.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  Subchapter C, Chapter 351, Local Government Code,
 2-3     is amended by adding Section 351.0416 to read as follows:
 2-4           Sec. 351.0416.  INVESTIGATIVE INTERVIEWS.  The sheriff or
 2-5     jailer shall establish procedures under which a private
 2-6     investigator, on presenting proof that the investigator is licensed
 2-7     under the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act
 2-8     (Article 4413(29bb), Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is provided,
 2-9     to the extent feasible, a private area in which to visit a county
2-10     prisoner for the purpose of interviewing the prisoner and obtaining
2-11     a taped or written statement from the prisoner.
2-12           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-18     passage, and it is so enacted.