BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

S.B. 545

By: Hancock

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Major airports in Texas often employ police forces that are frequently called upon to serve as escorts for the transportation of fallen soldiers and for the soldiers' families and honor guards during funerals or to provide escort and security detail to dignitaries travelling from the airport to destinations in the surrounding area. Interested parties note that while current law authorizes certain peace officers to provide these police escort services, certain airport security personnel are not included in the authorization. S.B. 545 seeks to authorize airport officers of certain political subdivisions in Texas to perform these important duties.

 

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

 

S.B. 545 amends the Transportation Code to include airport security personnel commissioned as peace officers by the governing body of certain political subdivisions in Texas that operate an airport that serves commercial air carriers among the peace officers authorized to act as police escorts for purposes of facilitating the movement of a funeral, oversized or hazardous load, or other traffic disruption for public safety purposes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2013.