HBA-CBW H.B. 232 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 232
By: Hawley
Public Safety
3/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies Act regulates and
licenses businesses and persons in the investigation and security industry.
Under current law, peace officers are prohibited from providing patrol,
guard, watchman, or extra job coordinator services unless they work at
least 32 hours a week as a peace officer.  Many reserve peace officers in
rural areas do not meet this requirement.  Rural schools and other
organizations are forced  to procure private security services  from
private security companies often located in distant large towns, incurring
large travel costs.  House Bill 232 exempts rural reserve peace officers
from regulation under the Private Investigators and Private Security
Agencies Act. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 232 amends the Occupations Code to exempt  a reserve peace
officer for a county or for a department, precinct, or political
subdivision of a county with a population of less than 20,000 from
regulation under the Private Investigators and Private Security Agencies
Act. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.