HBA-NLM H.B. 167 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 167
By: Chisum
Public Safety
3/11/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, federal park rangers are only authorized to make a citizens
arrest for violation of a state law if an offense occurs in their presence.
H.B 167 will authorize commissioned rangers of the National Park Service to
have the powers of arrest, search and seizure as to felony offenses under
the laws of the State of Texas. The proposed extension of authority will
allow for increased cooperation between National Park Service Rangers and
other law enforcement officials for the assurance of public safety under
state and federal law. 

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 Article 2.122(a),  Code of Criminal Procedure, to
include Commissioned Rangers of the National Park Service among the list of
criminal investigators of the United States entitled to have the powers of
arrest, search and seizure as to felony offenses only under the laws of the
State of Texas.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
                       Effective date:  upon passage.