SRC-LBB S.B. 801 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 801 78R5860 EMT-FBy: Madla Criminal Justice 3/31/2003 As Filed 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. As proposed, 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 primary 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.