H.B. No. 1132




AN ACT
relating to the regulation of and rights of private security personnel. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
ARTICLE 1. OCCUPATIONS CODE CHANGES
SECTION 1.01. Section 1702.163(a), Occupations Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) The board [commission] may not issue a security officer commission to an applicant employed by a license holder unless the applicant submits evidence satisfactory to the board [commission] that the applicant has: (1) completed the basic training course at a school or under an instructor approved by the board [commission]; (2) met each qualification established by this chapter and board [commission] rule; (3) achieved the score required by the board [commission] on the examination under Section 1702.1685; and (4) demonstrated to the satisfaction of the firearm training instructor that the applicant has complied with other board [commission] standards for minimum marksmanship competency with a handgun [shotgun]. SECTION 1.02. Section 1702.282, Occupations Code, is amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: (a) The board [commission] shall conduct a criminal history check, including a check of any criminal history record information maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the manner provided by Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, on each applicant for a license, registration, security officer commission, letter of approval, permit, or certification. An applicant is not eligible for a license, registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, or certification if the check reveals that the applicant has committed an act that constitutes grounds for the denial of the license, registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, or certification. Except as provided by Subsection (d), each [Each] applicant shall include in the application two complete sets of fingerprints on forms prescribed by the board [commission] accompanied by the fee set by the board [commission]. (d) An applicant who is a peace officer is not required to submit fingerprints with the applicant's application. On request, the law enforcement agency or other entity that employs the peace officer or the entity that maintains the peace officer's fingerprints shall provide the fingerprints for the peace officer to the board. The applicant shall provide sufficient information to the board to enable the board to obtain the fingerprints under this subsection.
ARTICLE 2. PENAL CODE CHANGES
SECTION 2.01. Section 46.05, Penal Code, is amended by amending Subsection (f) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows: (f) It is a defense to prosecution under this section for the possession of a chemical dispensing device that the actor is [holds] a security officer [commission issued by the Texas Commission on Private Security] and has received training on the use of the chemical dispensing device by a training program that is: (1) provided by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education; or (2) approved for the purposes described by this subsection by the Texas [Commission on] Private Security Board of the Department of Public Safety. (g) In Subsection (f), "security officer" means a commissioned security officer as defined by Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, or a noncommissioned security officer registered under Section 1702.221, Occupations Code.
ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
SECTION 3.01. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1132 was passed by the House on May 11, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 1132 was passed by the Senate on May 25, 2005, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor