Bill Text: TX HB605 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the authority of the Harris County Hospital District to employ and commission peace officers.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB605 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB605-Introduced.html

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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.