SRC-LBB S.B. 801 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 801
By: Madla
Criminal Justice
6/10/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 
 
Currently, Dallas, Tarrant, and Bexar County Hospital Districts have the
authority to employ and commission peace officers.  However, the
jurisdiction was not clearly expressed.  Evaluation of security, attack
and disaster preparedness revealed that public streets abutting hospital
district facilities should be under the jurisdiction of the district
police departments.  S.B. 801 allows prompt response to situations which
may place the security of the facilities at risk or which may otherwise
hinder access to and from the facilities in the event of circumstances
involving public exigency.  This bill also provides that the jurisdiction
of a peace officer commissioned by the Dallas, Tarrant, or Bexar County
Hospital District includes the property owned or controlled by the
district and any street abutting, right-of-way over or through, or
easement in the property. 

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 281.057, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(b)  Provides that the jurisdiction of a peace officer commissioned under
this section includes the property owned or controlled by the hospital
district that employs the peace officer and any street abutting,
right-of-way over or through, or easement in the property. 

(c)  Provides that in a district peace officer's primary jurisdiction, the
peace officer has the authority granted by Chapter 14 (Arrest Without
Warrant), Code of Criminal Procedure.  Authorizes a peace officer to make
an arrest without a warrant in the officer's primary jurisdiction if the
offense involves injury or harm to any property owned or controlled by the
district. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.