Harris County Hospital District gets its own police force

The text as introduced · 829 words

89R383 MPF-D

By: Jones of Harris
H.B. No. 605

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to

employ and commission peace officers.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 281.057(a), Health and Safety Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The board of the Dallas County Hospital District, the

Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar County Hospital

District, [ or ] the El Paso County Hospital District , or the Harris

County Hospital District may employ and commission peace officers

for the district.

SECTION 2. Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, is

amended to read as follows:

Art. 2A.001. PEACE OFFICERS GENERALLY. The following are

peace officers:

(1) a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy

sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under

Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(2) a constable, a deputy constable, or a reserve

deputy constable who holds a permanent peace officer license issued

under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(3) a marshal or police officer of a municipality or a

reserve municipal police officer who holds a permanent peace

officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;

(4) a ranger, officer, or member of the reserve

officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the

director of the Department of Public Safety;

(5) an investigator of a district attorney's, criminal

district attorney's, or county attorney's office;

(6) a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic

Beverage Commission;

(7) a member of an arson investigating unit

commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;

(8) an officer commissioned under Section 37.081,

Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education Code;

(9) an officer commissioned by the Texas Facilities

Commission;

(10) a law enforcement officer commissioned by the

Parks and Wildlife Commission;

(11) an officer commissioned under Chapter 23,

Transportation Code;

(12) a municipal park and recreational patrol officer

or security officer;

(13) a security officer or investigator commissioned

as a peace officer by the comptroller;

(14) an officer commissioned by a water control and

improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;

(15) an officer commissioned by a board of trustees

under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;

(16) an investigator commissioned by the Texas Medical

Board;

(17) an officer commissioned by:

(A) the board of managers of the Dallas County

Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar

County Hospital District, [ or ] the El Paso County Hospital

District , or the Harris County Hospital District under Section

281.057, Health and Safety Code;

(B) the board of directors of the Ector County

Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local

Laws Code;

(C) the board of directors of the Midland County

Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,

Special District Local Laws Code; or

(D) the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock

County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section

1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;

(18) a county park ranger commissioned under

Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;

(19) an investigator employed by the Texas Racing

Commission;

(20) an officer commissioned under Chapter 554,

Occupations Code;

(21) an officer commissioned by the governing body of

a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,

Transportation Code, or a regional transportation authority under

Section 452.110, Transportation Code;

(22) an investigator commissioned by the attorney

general under Section 402.009, Government Code;

(23) a security officer or investigator commissioned

as a peace officer under Chapter 466, Government Code;

(24) an officer appointed by an appellate court under

Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;

(25) an officer commissioned by the state fire marshal

under Chapter 417, Government Code;

(26) an investigator commissioned by the commissioner

of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;

(27) an apprehension specialist or inspector general

commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice Department as an officer

under Section 242.102 or 243.052, Human Resources Code;

(28) an officer appointed by the inspector general of

the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,

Government Code;

(29) an investigator commissioned by the Texas

Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations

Code;

(30) a fire marshal or any related officer, inspector,

or investigator commissioned by a county under Subchapter B,

Chapter 352, Local Government Code;

(31) a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or

investigator commissioned by an emergency services district under

Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;

(32) an officer commissioned by the State Board of

Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject

to the limitations imposed by that section; and

(33) an investigator commissioned by the Texas

Juvenile Justice Department as an officer under Section 221.011,

Human Resources Code.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives

a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as

provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this

Act takes effect September 1, 2025.