SRC-JBJ H.B. 232 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 232
By: Hawley (Armbrister)
Criminal Justice
5/3/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act regulates and
licenses businesses and persons in the investigation and security industry.
Under current Texas law, peace officers are prohibited from providing
patrol, guard, watchman, or extra job coordinator services unless they work
at least 32 hours a week as a peace officer.  Many reserve peace officers
in rural areas do not meet this requirement.  H.B. 232 exempts certain
rural reserve peace officers from regulation under the Private
Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 1702.322, Occupations Code, to provide that this
chapter does not apply to a reserve peace officer for a county or for a
department, precinct, or political subdivision of a county if the county
has a population of less than 20,000, while the reserve officer is
performing duties at an event or function sponsored or sanctioned by a
political subdivision, school, or nonprofit organization in a county with a
population of less than 20,000. 

SECTION 2.  (a)  Provides that in accordance with Section 311.031(c)
(relating to saving provisions), Government Code, which gives effect to a
substantive amendment enacted by the same legislature that codifies the
amended statute, the text of Section 1702.322, Occupations Code, as set out
in this Act, gives effect to changes made by Section 3, Chapter 974, Acts
of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999. 

(b)  Provides that to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over
another Act of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.