85R941 SRS-F
 
  By: Villalba H.B. No. 659
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the employment of a commissioned security officer by a
  religious organization.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, is amended
  by amending Subdivisions (11) and (20-a) and adding Subdivision
  (20-b) to read as follows:
               (11)  "Letter of authority" means a permit issued by
  the board that entitles the security department of a private
  business, a religious organization, or a political subdivision to
  employ a commissioned security officer.
               (20-a)  "Religious organization" means an organization
  that meets the standards for qualification under Section 11.20, Tax
  Code.
               (20-b)  "Security officer" means a person who performs
  the activities described by Section 1702.222.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1702.181, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.181.  LETTER OF AUTHORITY REQUIRED. The security
  department of a private business, a religious organization, or a
  political subdivision may not employ a commissioned security
  officer unless the security department holds a letter of authority.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1702.182, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.182.  SECURITY DEPARTMENT OF PRIVATE BUSINESS OR
  RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION. (a) A security department acts as the
  security department of a private business or religious organization
  if it:
               (1)  has as its general purpose the protection and
  security of its own property and grounds; and
               (2)  does not offer or provide security services to
  another person.
         (b)  For purposes of this subchapter, a hospital licensed
  under Chapter 241 or 577, Health and Safety Code, may provide
  security services to:
               (1)  buildings, grounds, and tenants located on the
  hospital's property or campus, regardless of who owns the building;
  and
               (2)  a parent entity or member entity of the hospital or
  hospital corporation, or an affiliated entity or business with whom
  the hospital shares common ownership or control.
         (c)  For purposes of this subchapter, a religious
  organization may provide security services only to:
               (1)  a facility used by the organization primarily as a
  place of regular religious worship;
               (2)  the tract of land on which a facility described by
  Subdivision (1) is located;
               (3)  a tract of land contiguous with a tract described
  by Subdivision (2) or divided from that tract only by a road,
  railroad track, river, or stream; or
               (4)  a facility located on a tract described by
  Subdivision (2) or (3).
         SECTION 4.  Section 1702.183, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.183.  APPLICATION FOR LETTER OF AUTHORITY. A
  security department of a private business, of a religious
  organization, or of a political subdivision that applies for a
  security officer commission for an individual employed by the
  security department must submit an application to the board for a
  letter of authority on a form provided by the board.
         SECTION 5.  Section 1702.184, Occupations Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.184.  LOCAL REGULATION OF CERTAIN SECURITY
  SERVICES FOR PRIVATE BUSINESSES OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. (a)
  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a political subdivision of
  this state may not require a private business or religious
  organization to contract with or employ a peace officer to provide
  security services for the private business or religious
  organization.
         (b)  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  a requirement that a private business or religious
  organization contract with or employ a peace officer to:
                     (A)  provide security services for a public event;
                     (B)  provide security services for a private event
  held at a public facility that is owned or leased by a political
  subdivision of this state;
                     (C)  conduct a public escort; or
                     (D)  direct traffic on a public roadway; or
               (2)  an order or determination made by a court under
  Chapter 125, Civil Practice and Remedies Code.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.