SRC-TJG, AMY S.B. 527 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 527
By: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
8/15/2003
Enrolled

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law does not authorize a rapid transit authority created
before 1980 in a municipality with a population of less than 1.2 million
to commission officers to enforce transit laws on transit property.  S.B.
527 authorizes a rapid transit authority created before 1980 in which the
principal municipality has a population of less than 1.2 million to
commission security personnel as peace officers. 

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 451.108, Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Authorizes a rapid transit authority to commission and employ peace
officers. 

(b) Authorizes a rapid transit authority created before 1980, in which the
principal municipality has a populaiton of less than 1.2 million, to
establish a security force and to employ and commission security personnel
as peace officers. 

(c) Redesignates Subsection (b) as Subsection (c).  Authorizes a peace
officer, in any county in which the transit system is located, to make an
arrest to prevent or abate the commission of an offense against the law,
or transit authority system; for an offense involving injury or detriment
to the transit authority system; and to enforce all traffic laws and
investigate traffic accidents that involve or occur in the transit
authority system, except as provided in Subsections (d) and (e). 

(d)  Redesignates Subsection (c) as Subsection (d). Provides that a peace
officer commissioned under this section from an authority in which the
principal municipality has a population of more than 1.5 million and who
has filed with the authority the oath of a peace officer has all powers,
privileges, and immunities of  peace officers in the transit authority
system's counties of service and support. 

(e) Provides that a peace officer commissioned under this section from an
authority created before 1980 in which the principal municipality has a
population of less than 1.2 million and who has filed with the authority
the oath of a peace officer [no connecting text in bill as drafted] in
counties in which the transit authority system is located, provides
services, or is supported by general sales and use tax while the peace
officer is on the transit authority system property or performing duties
in connection with the transit authority system or its users. [As drafted,
does not specify any specific duty or authority ascribed to the peace
officer described in the subsection.] 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.