BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3424
88R13025 SHH-F	By: Frazier (Alvarado)
	Criminal Justice
	5/17/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Many armed security officers are trained and employed in various capacities to protect private property and secure private events. The mandated training for security personnel was moved into an online training program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online training programs do not require any in-person weapons training which represents a risk to the security officers and the persons they encounter throughout their duties. Furthermore, the handgun proficiency and tactical training portion of the security training program should be conducted in person with an authorized instructor for increased safety. �����������

H.B. 3424:

• requires classroom instruction on handgun proficiency included as part of a basic training course for commissioned security officers to also include instruction on self-defense tactics; and
• revises requirements for the administration of classroom instruction by requiring that the instruction be delivered exclusively on an in-person basis and by an on-site instructor approved by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. 

Committee Substitute: 

• The committee substitute requires applicants to undergo a psychological test to be eligible for a commissioned security officer license. 

H.B. 3424 amends current law relating to the training requirements for commissioned security officers and personal protection officers.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 1702.1675(a) and (g), Occupations Code, as follows:

(a) Requires the Public Safety Commission (PSC) to establish a basic training course for commissioned security officers, which is required to include, at a minimum:

(1) makes no change to this subdivision;

(2) classroom instruction on handgun proficiency and self-defense tactics; and

(3) makes no change to this subdivision.

(g) Requires that the handgun proficiency and self-defense course include at least 10 hours and not more than 15 hours of in-person instruction with an on-site instructor approved by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) on:

(1)-(2) makes no change to these subdivisions;

(3)-(4) makes nonsubstantive changes to these subdivisions; and

(5) self-defense tactics.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 1702.1685(a), Occupations Code, as follows:

(a) Requires that the proficiency examination required to obtain or renew a security officer commission include:

(1) a written section on the subjects listed in Sections 1702.1675(g)(1) through (4) (relating to requiring that the handgun proficiency course include certain hours of instruction and learning material), rather than Section 1702.1675(g) (relating to� requiring that the handgun proficiency course include certain hours of instruction); and

(2) makes no change to this subdivision.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 1702.205(b), Occupations Code, as follows:

(b) Provides that the training required by this section:

(1) is required to be provided in-person; and

(2) creates this subdivision from existing text.

SECTION 4. (a) Makes application of Section 1702.1675, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2024.

(b) Requires PSC, not later than January 1, 2024, to update the basic training course for commissioned security officers to comply with Section 1702.1675, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 5. Makes application of Section 1702.205, Occupations Code, as amended by this Act, prospective to January 1, 2024.

SECTION 6. Effective date: September 1, 2023.