BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 3815

By: Lewis

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that the Ector County Hospital District is not authorized to employ and commission peace officers. C.S.H.B. 3815 addresses this issue by including the Ector County Hospital District among the hospital districts that may commission these officers.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 3815 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to authorize the board of directors of the Ector County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers for the district. The bill establishes that the jurisdiction of a peace officer so commissioned includes the property owned or controlled by the district and that in a district peace officer's jurisdiction the peace officer has the authority to make an arrest without a warrant under certain conditions. 

 

C.S.H.B. 3815 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to add peace officers commissioned by the board of directors of the Ector County Hospital District to the list of persons who are considered peace officers.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

C.S.H.B. 3815 differs from the original, in a bill provision establishing that the jurisdiction of a peace officer commissioned by the board of directors of the Ector County Hospital District includes the property owned or controlled by the district, by omitting language establishing that such jurisdiction includes any street abutting, right-of-way over or through, or easement in that property.

 

C.S.H.B. 3815 omits a provision included in the original authorizing a district peace officer to make an arrest without a warrant in the officer's jurisdiction if the offense involves injury or harm to any property owned or controlled by the district.