HBA-MPM, DMD H.B. 1168 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1168 By: Thompson County Affairs 9/14/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Many courthouses throughout the state maintain security checkpoints to prevent weapons and other items from entering the courthouse. Many counties provide employee identification cards which allow them to bypass security checkpoints; however, some people entering the courthouse are frequent visitors and are not security risks. H.B. 1168 authorizes certain county commissioners courts to issue identification cards which permit certain individuals into a county building that houses a justice court, county court, county court at law, or district court without passing though the security services. Additionally, the bill authorizes the commissioners court to assess a fee for the issuance of the identification card to individuals other than county employees. Furthermore, it stipulates that these individuals may not possess a firearm in the courthouses or offices or other areas used by the court. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 291, Local Government Code, by adding Section 291.010, as follows: Sec. 291.010. SECURITY SERVICES IDENTIFICATION CARD. (a) Authorizes a commissioners court of a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to sanction the issuance of an identification card which permits individuals into a county building that houses a justice court, county court, county court at law, or district court without passing through the security services provided under Article 102.017 (Court Costs; Courthouse Security Fund; Municipal Court Building Security Fund), Code of Criminal Procedure. Authorizes a commissioners court to set a reasonable fee for the issuance of the identification card to individuals other than county employees. (b) Requires the commissioners court to adopt standards for issuing an identification card to ensure public safety and security. (c) Stipulates that this section does not authorize a person to possess a firearm as defined by Section 46.01 (Definitions), Penal Code, in a county building housing a justice, county, or district court or county court at law. Subjects a person possessing such a firearm in any of these courts or in any office used by the court without the court's written authorization or without complying with any written regulation of the court to penalties provided by Chapter 46 (Weapons), Penal Code. "Firearm," as described by Section 46.01, Penal Code, means any device designed, made, or adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device readily convertible to that use. This definition does not include certain antique or curio firearms manufactured prior to 1899. SECTION 2.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.