Bill Text: TX HB1359 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Relating to an attorney identification card for entrance into a building that houses a court; authorizing a fee.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 31-18)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-01 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB1359 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB1359-Comm_Sub.html

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86R24910 SRS-D
By: Wu, King of Parker, Davis of Harris, H.B. No. 1359
Longoria, et al.
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1359:
By: J. Johnson of Dallas C.S.H.B. No. 1359

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an attorney identification card for entrance into a
building that houses a court; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 75, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter J to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER J. ACCESS TO BUILDINGS THAT HOUSE COURTS
Sec. 75.601. STATE BAR MEMBERS. (a) To enter a building
that houses a justice court, municipal court, county court, county
court at law, or district court without passing through security
services, an attorney licensed to practice law in this state may
present the attorney's security services identification card
issued under Section 81.117 instead of an identification card
issued or authorized for issuance by a county or municipality.
(b) A county or municipality may not adopt or enforce an
order or ordinance that conflicts with Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 81, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 81.117 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.117. SECURITY SERVICES IDENTIFICATION CARD. (a)
The state bar in accordance with this section may issue to a member
of the state bar a security services identification card that
authorizes the member to enter a building that houses a court
without passing through security services as provided by Section
75.601. The identification card:
(1) may be in an electronic or a physical format; and
(2) must include a photograph of the member taken
within the five years preceding the date of the card's issuance.
(b) A member of the state bar may apply for issuance of a
security services identification card by submitting to the state
bar:
(1) an application on a form prescribed by the state
bar;
(2) a form prescribed by the state bar authorizing the
state bar to obtain criminal history record information on the
applicant; and
(3) a reasonable fee in the amount set by the state bar
to cover the costs of implementing this section, including the
portion of the fee to be remitted to a county in accordance with
Subsection (c).
(c) The state bar shall remit a portion of each fee
collected under this section in an amount not less than $50 as
prescribed by state bar rules to the county treasurer, or person
performing the functions of the county treasurer, of the county of
the applicant's primary practice location. The county may use
money the county receives under this subsection only for court
security purposes.
(d) The state bar shall adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules:
(1) on the collection and distribution of fees;
(2) for the approval, denial, and revocation of a
security services identification card; and
(3) to establish a committee to:
(A) review security services identification card
applications submitted by and criminal history record information
obtained concerning members of the state bar; and
(B) oversee:
(i) the collection and distribution of fees
in accordance with this section and rules adopted under this
section; and
(ii) the approval, denial, and revocation
of a security services identification card.
SECTION 3. Section 411.1005, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
(a-1) The State Bar of Texas is entitled to obtain from the
department criminal history record information maintained by the
department that relates to a person who:
(1) is licensed by the state bar; and
(2) applies for issuance of a security services
identification card under Section 81.117.
SECTION 4. Section 291.010, Local Government Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) The commissioners court of a county may not adopt or
enforce an order that conflicts with Section 75.601, Government
Code.
SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the State Bar of Texas shall adopt the rules, fees,
forms, and procedures necessary to implement this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.