BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1561

By: Schaefer

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that private organizations such as churches or other religious organizations face the same need for security as public institutions. However, using licensed private security officers can be expensive and unfeasible for these small organizations. The parties express the need to allow for the use of volunteer security services at these organizations. C.S.H.B. 1561 seeks to address this need and enable these organizations that cannot afford to pay for professional security services to protect their establishments. 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1561 amends the Occupations Code to exempt from the Private Security Act a person who provides volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1561 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1702.3245 to read as follows: Sec. 1702.3245.  CERTAIN VOLUNTEERS.  (a)  This chapter does not apply to a person who provides volunteer security services on the premises of: (1)  a private primary or secondary school; (2)  a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship; or (3)  the regular meeting place of a nonprofit organization for the duration of a meeting of the nonprofit organization. (b)  In this section, "nonprofit organization" means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being described as an exempt organization by Section 501(c)(3) of that code.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1702.3245 to read as follows: Sec. 1702.3245.  CERTAIN VOLUNTEERS.  This chapter does not apply to a person who provides volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.