BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4372

By: Oliverson

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

In the past decade, there have been dozens of school shootings across the country. Ensuring the security of students and staff in schools is crucial to having a successful education system. While public school districts have the option to commission peace officers, private schools do not. With many big city law enforcement agencies reporting staffing issues, it is imperative that private schools have law enforcement officers of their own to rely on, as any delay in response time can lead to increased harm. H.B. 4372 seeks to authorize large private schools to commission peace officers to enforce state and local law on the school's campus.

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

H.B. 4372 amends the Education Code to authorize the governing body of a private school that has an enrollment of at least 1,500 students to commission peace officers to enforce state and local law on the school's campus. The bill requires a peace officer commissioned by such a private school to meet all minimum standards for peace officers established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

H.B. 4372 amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to make a conforming change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.