By: Fletcher H.B. No. 3433
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of certain private security companies
  and occupations; creating an offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1702.002(1-a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
               (1-a)  For purposes of Subdivision (1), the term "alarm
  system" does not include a telephone entry system, an operator for
  opening or closing a residential or commercial gate or door, or an
  accessory used only to activate a gate or door, if the system,
  operator, or accessory is not monitored by security personnel or a
  security service and does not send a signal to which law enforcement
  or emergency services respond [connected to a computer or data
  processor that records or archives the voice, visual image, or
  identifying information of the user].
         SECTION 2.  Section 1702.110, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  An application for a license under this chapter must be
  in the form prescribed by the board and include:
               (1)  the full name and business address of the
  applicant;
               (2)  the name under which the applicant intends to do
  business;
               (3)  a statement as to the general nature of the
  business in which the applicant intends to engage;
               (4)  a statement as to the classification for which the
  applicant requests qualification;
               (5)  if the applicant is an entity other than an
  individual, the full name and residence address of each partner,
  officer who oversees the security-related aspects of the business,
  and director of the applicant, and of the applicant's manager;
               (6)  if the applicant is an individual, the [two
  classifiable sets of] fingerprints of the applicant or, if the
  applicant is an entity other than an individual, of each officer who
  oversees the security-related aspects of the business and of each
  partner or shareholder who owns at least a 25 percent interest in
  the applicant, provided in the manner prescribed by the board;
               (7)  a verified statement of the applicant's experience
  qualifications in the particular classification in which the
  applicant is applying;
               (8)  a report from the department stating the
  applicant's record of any convictions for a Class B misdemeanor or
  equivalent offense or a greater offense;
               (9)  the social security number of the individual
  making the application; and
               (10)  other information, evidence, statements, or
  documents required by the board.
         (c)  The department may return an application as incomplete
  if the applicant submits payment of a fee that is returned for
  insufficient funds and the applicant has received notice and an
  opportunity to provide payment in full.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1702.113(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  An applicant for a license, certificate of
  registration, endorsement, or security officer commission or the
  applicant's manager must be at least 18 years of age and must not:
               (1)  at the time of application be charged under an
  information or indictment with the commission of a Class A or Class
  B misdemeanor or felony offense determined by department rule to be
  disqualifying [, under an information or indictment];
               (2)  have been found by a court to be incompetent by
  reason of a mental defect or disease and not have been restored to
  competency;
               (3)  have been dishonorably discharged from the United
  States armed services, discharged from the United States armed
  services under other conditions determined by the board to be
  prohibitive, or dismissed from the United States armed services if
  a commissioned officer in the United States armed services; or
               (4)  be required to register in this or any other state
  as a sex offender, unless the applicant is approved by the board
  under Section 1702.3615.
         SECTION 4.  Section 1702.121(b), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A manager shall [be] immediately cease all managerial
  actions [terminated] on the effective date of any summary action
  taken against the manager.  Any period of temporary operation
  authorized under this section or Section 1702.122 begins [starts]
  on the effective date of the summary action [termination].
         SECTION 5.  Section 1702.124, Occupations Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  In addition to the requirements of this section, an
  applicant or license holder shall provide and maintain a
  certificate of insurance or other documentary evidence of insurance
  sufficient to cover all of the business activities of the applicant
  or license holder related to private security.
         SECTION 6.  Section 1702.282(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The board 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, endorsement, or
  certification.  As part of its criminal history check, the board
  may request that the applicant provide certified copies of relevant
  court documents or other records.  The failure to provide the
  requested records within a reasonable time as determined by the
  board may result in the application being considered
  incomplete.  An applicant is not eligible for a license,
  registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, endorsement,
  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,
  endorsement, or certification.  Except as provided by Subsection
  (d), each applicant shall submit at the time of [include in the]
  application, including an application for a license, registration,
  commission, letter of approval, permit, endorsement, or
  certification, [two complete sets of] fingerprints in the manner
  [on forms] prescribed by the board accompanied by the fee set by the
  board.
         SECTION 7.  Subchapter L, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1702.289 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.289.  INSPECTIONS. (a) In addition to other
  inspections authorized by this chapter, an employee or agent of the
  department or board, as applicable, may enter the place of business
  of a person regulated under this chapter during normal business
  hours for the purpose of conducting an inspection or audit to
  determine the person's compliance with this chapter or a rule
  adopted under this chapter.
         (b)  An employee or agent of the department or board, as
  applicable, who enters the place of business of a person regulated
  under this chapter for the purpose of conducting an inspection or
  audit must:
               (1)  notify the manager or owner of the business of the
  presence of the person conducting the inspection or audit; and
               (2)  present the manager or owner of the business with
  credentials that identify the person conducting the inspection or
  audit as an employee or agent of the department or board.
         (c)  This section does not prohibit the department or board
  from conducting an undercover investigation or covert audit in
  order to determine compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted
  under this chapter.
         SECTION 8.  Section 1702.361, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  The department shall take disciplinary action described
  by Subsection (a) on proof:
               (1)  that the applicant, license holder, manager or
  majority owner of a license holder, registrant, endorsement holder,
  or commissioned security officer has:
                     (A)  violated this chapter or a rule adopted under
  this chapter;
                     (B)  become ineligible for licensure,
  registration, or endorsement under Section 1702.113, or a
  commission under Section 1702.163, if applicable, other than an
  action for which the department has taken summary action under
  Section 1702.364;
                     (C)  engaged in fraud, deceit, or
  misrepresentation;
                     (D)  made a material misstatement in an
  application for or renewal of a license, registration, endorsement,
  or commission;
                     (E)  failed to pay in full an administrative
  penalty assessed under Subchapter Q, for which the board has issued
  a final order; [or]
                     (F)  performed any service for which an
  endorsement is required under this chapter and either:
                           (i)  was not employed with a company
  licensed under this chapter at the time the service was performed;
  or
                           (ii)  performed the service for a company
  licensed under this chapter that was not listed on the individual's
  registration without informing the board of the individual's
  employment with the company within a reasonable period; or
                     (G)  failed to qualify a new manager within the
  time required by board rule following the termination of a manager;
  or
               (2)  that the license holder of a registrant or
  commissioned security officer has submitted to the department
  sufficient evidence that the registrant or commissioned security
  officer:
                     (A)  engaged in fraud or deceit while employed by
  the license holder; or
                     (B)  committed theft while performing work as a
  registrant or commissioned security officer.
         (d)  The department may revoke a license, certificate,
  registration, endorsement, or commission if the person holding that
  credential under this chapter submits payment of a fee or penalty
  that is returned for insufficient funds and the person has received
  notice and an opportunity to provide payment in full.
         SECTION 9.  Section 1702.364(a), Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  On receiving written notice from a law enforcement
  agency that a person has been charged with or convicted of an
  offense that would make the person ineligible for a license,
  certificate of registration, endorsement, or security officer
  commission under Section 1702.113 or 1702.163, or a rule adopted
  under Section 1702.004(b), the department shall:
               (1)  summarily deny the person's application for a
  license, registration, endorsement, or security officer
  commission;
               (2)  in the event of pending charges, summarily suspend
  the person's license, certificate of registration, endorsement, or
  security officer commission; or
               (3)  in the event of a conviction, summarily revoke the
  person's license, certificate of registration, endorsement, or
  security officer commission.
         SECTION 10.  Subchapter P, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code,
  is amended by adding Section 1702.3841 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.3841.  INSUFFICIENT INSURANCE COVERAGE; OFFENSE.
  (a) A person commits an offense if the person is subject to Section
  1702.124 and knowingly fails to provide and maintain a certificate
  of insurance or other documentary evidence of insurance sufficient
  to cover all of the business activities of the person related to
  private security.  One is presumed to have knowingly violated this
  provision if reasonable notice and opportunity to cure the defect
  has been provided prior to the violation.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         SECTION 11.  Section 12.092(b), Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The medical advisory board shall assist the Department
  of Public Safety of the State of Texas in determining whether:
               (1)  an applicant for a driver's license or a license
  holder is capable of safely operating a motor vehicle; or
               (2)  an applicant for or holder of a license to carry a
  concealed handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
  Government Code, or an applicant for or holder of a commission as a
  security officer under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is capable
  of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and
  storage of a handgun.
         SECTION 12.  Sections 1702.113(b) and (c), Occupations Code,
  are repealed.
         SECTION 13.  (a)  The changes in law made by this Act to
  Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, apply only to an application for an
  original or renewal license, registration, or endorsement
  submitted to the Texas Private Security Board on or after January 1,
  2014.  An application submitted before January 1, 2014, is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and
  the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         (b)  The Texas Private Security Board shall adopt rules to
  implement the changes in law made by this Act not later than January
  1, 2014.
         SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
  receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013.