Bill Text: TX HB2629 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to unauthorized persons at public or private institutions of higher education in this state and to trespass, damage, or defacement occurring on the grounds of those institutions; amending provisions subject to a criminal penalty and creating offenses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)
Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB2629 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-HB2629-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 2629 |
|
||
relating to unauthorized persons at public or private institutions | ||
of higher education in this state and to trespass, damage, or | ||
defacement occurring on the grounds of those institutions; amending | ||
provisions subject to a criminal penalty and creating offenses. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 51.202, Education Code, | ||
is amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.202. RULES AND REGULATIONS[ |
||
SECTION 2. Section 51.204, Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.204. TRESPASS, DAMAGE, DEFACEMENT [ |
||
this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or | ||
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) It is unlawful for any person to: | ||
(1) trespass on the grounds of an [ |
||
institution of higher education or of a private or independent | ||
institution of higher education; [ |
||
(2) damage or deface [ |
||
buildings, statues, monuments, memorials, trees, shrubs, grasses, | ||
or flowers on the grounds of an institution [ |
||
|
||
institution of higher education. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 51.208, Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.208. PENALTY; COURTS HAVING JURISDICTION. (a) In | ||
this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or | ||
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) A person who violates any provision of this subchapter | ||
or any rule or regulation promulgated under this subchapter commits | ||
an offense. An offense under this subsection is a misdemeanor | ||
punishable by a fine of not more than $200. | ||
(c) The judge of a municipal court or any justice of the | ||
peace of any city or county where property under the control and | ||
jurisdiction of an [ |
||
private or independent institution of higher education is located | ||
is each separately vested with all jurisdiction necessary to hear | ||
and determine criminal cases involving violations of this | ||
subchapter or rules or regulations promulgated under this | ||
subchapter for which the punishment does not exceed a fine of $200. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 51.209, Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.209. UNAUTHORIZED PERSONS; REFUSAL OF ENTRY, | ||
EJECTION, IDENTIFICATION. (a) In this section, "institution of | ||
higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher | ||
education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(b) The governing board of an [ |
||
higher education or a private or independent institution of higher | ||
education or the governing board's [ |
||
representatives may refuse to allow persons having no legitimate | ||
business to enter on property under the board's control, and may | ||
eject any undesirable person from the property on the person's | ||
[ |
||
required of any person on the property, and the person must provide | ||
that identification on request. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 51.202(b), Education Code, is repealed. | ||
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 2629 was passed by the House on April | ||
30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 2, 1 present, not | ||
voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 2629 was passed by the Senate on May | ||
26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: _____________________ | ||
Date | ||
_____________________ | ||
Governor |