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


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
  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.
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