BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 319

By: Perry

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that as hospitals are facing increased security risks the Lubbock County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, is considering various options to provide a safer and more secure environment for patients, visitors, and staff. It has been suggested that granting the district's board of hospital managers the authority to employ and commission district peace officers would allow for a professional security force trained in situations unique to hospitals and health care settings. S.B. 319 seeks to provide for such authority.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill expressly does one or more of the following: creates a criminal offense, increases the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or changes 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

S.B. 319 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to authorize the board of hospital

managers of the Lubbock County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, to employ and

commission peace officers for the district. The bill establishes that the jurisdiction of a peace

officer commissioned as such includes the property owned or controlled by the district and that a

district peace officer has the authority granted by statutory provisions relating to arrest without a

warrant in the peace officer's jurisdiction.

S.B. 319 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make a conforming change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Upon passage or September 1, 2019.