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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of certain private security companies |
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and occupations; creating an offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1702.002(1-a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(1-a) For purposes of Subdivision (1), the term "alarm |
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system" does not include a telephone entry system, an operator for |
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opening or closing a residential or commercial gate or door, or an |
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accessory used only to activate a gate or door, if the system, |
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operator, or accessory is not monitored by security personnel or a |
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security service and does not send a signal to which law enforcement |
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or emergency services respond [connected to a computer or data
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processor that records or archives the voice, visual image, or
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identifying information of the user]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1702.110, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) An application for a license under this chapter must be |
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in the form prescribed by the board and include: |
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(1) the full name and business address of the |
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applicant; |
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(2) the name under which the applicant intends to do |
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business; |
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(3) a statement as to the general nature of the |
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business in which the applicant intends to engage; |
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(4) a statement as to the classification for which the |
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applicant requests qualification; |
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(5) if the applicant is an entity other than an |
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individual, the full name and residence address of each partner, |
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officer who oversees the security-related aspects of the business, |
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and director of the applicant, and of the applicant's manager; |
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(6) if the applicant is an individual, the [two
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classifiable sets of] fingerprints of the applicant or, if the |
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applicant is an entity other than an individual, of each officer who |
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oversees the security-related aspects of the business and of each |
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partner or shareholder who owns at least a 25 percent interest in |
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the applicant, provided in the manner prescribed by the board; |
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(7) a verified statement of the applicant's experience |
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qualifications in the particular classification in which the |
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applicant is applying; |
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(8) a report from the department stating the |
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applicant's record of any convictions for a Class B misdemeanor or |
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equivalent offense or a greater offense; |
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(9) the social security number of the individual |
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making the application; and |
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(10) other information, evidence, statements, or |
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documents required by the board. |
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(c) The department may return an application as incomplete |
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if the applicant submits payment of a fee that is returned for |
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insufficient funds and the applicant has received notice and an |
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opportunity to provide payment in full. |
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SECTION 3. Section 1702.113(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An applicant for a license, certificate of |
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registration, endorsement, or security officer commission or the |
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applicant's manager must be at least 18 years of age and must not: |
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(1) at the time of application be charged under an |
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information or indictment with the commission of a Class A or Class |
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B misdemeanor or felony offense determined to be disqualifying by |
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board rule [, under an information or indictment]; |
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(2) have been found by a court to be incompetent by |
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reason of a mental defect or disease and not have been restored to |
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competency; |
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(3) have been dishonorably discharged from the United |
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States armed services, discharged from the United States armed |
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services under other conditions determined by the board to be |
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prohibitive, or dismissed from the United States armed services if |
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a commissioned officer in the United States armed services; or |
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(4) be required to register in this or any other state |
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as a sex offender, unless the applicant is approved by the board |
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under Section 1702.3615. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1702.121(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A manager shall [be] immediately cease all managerial |
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actions [terminated] on the effective date of any summary action |
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taken against the manager. Any period of temporary operation |
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authorized under this section or Section 1702.122 begins [starts] |
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on the effective date of the summary action [termination]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 1702.124, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) In addition to the requirements of this section, an |
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applicant or license holder shall provide and maintain a |
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certificate of insurance or other documentary evidence of insurance |
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sufficient to cover all of the business activities of the applicant |
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or license holder related to private security. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1702.282(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The board shall conduct a criminal history check, |
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including a check of any criminal history record information |
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maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in the manner |
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provided by Subchapter F, Chapter 411, Government Code, on each |
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applicant for a license, registration, security officer |
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commission, letter of approval, permit, endorsement, or |
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certification. As part of its criminal history check, the board |
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may request that the applicant provide certified copies of relevant |
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court documents or other records. The failure to provide the |
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requested records within a reasonable time as determined by the |
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board may result in the application being considered |
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incomplete. An applicant is not eligible for a license, |
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registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, endorsement, |
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or certification if the check reveals that the applicant has |
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committed an act that constitutes grounds for the denial of the |
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license, registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, |
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endorsement, or certification. Except as provided by Subsection |
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(d), each applicant shall submit at the time of [include in the] |
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application, including an application for the renewal of a license, |
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registration, commission, letter of approval, permit, endorsement, |
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or certification, [two complete sets of] fingerprints in the |
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manner [on forms] prescribed by the board accompanied by the fee set |
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by the board. |
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SECTION 7. Subchapter L, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1702.289 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1702.289. INSPECTIONS. (a) An employee or agent of the |
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department or board, as applicable, who enters the place of |
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business of a person regulated under this chapter for the purpose of |
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conducting an inspection or audit must: |
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(1) notify the manager or owner of the business of the |
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presence of the person conducting the inspection or audit; and |
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(2) present the manager or owner of the business with |
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credentials that identify the person conducting the inspection or |
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audit as an employee or agent of the department or board. |
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(b) This section does not prohibit the department or board |
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from conducting an undercover investigation or covert audit in |
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order to determine compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted |
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under this chapter. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1702.361, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) The department shall take disciplinary action described |
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by Subsection (a) on proof: |
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(1) that the applicant, license holder, manager or |
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majority owner of a license holder, registrant, endorsement holder, |
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or commissioned security officer has: |
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(A) violated this chapter or a rule adopted under |
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this chapter; |
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(B) become ineligible for licensure, |
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registration, or endorsement under Section 1702.113, or a |
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commission under Section 1702.163, if applicable, other than an |
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action for which the department has taken summary action under |
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Section 1702.364; |
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(C) engaged in fraud, deceit, or |
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misrepresentation; |
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(D) made a material misstatement in an |
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application for or renewal of a license, registration, endorsement, |
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or commission; |
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(E) failed to pay in full an administrative |
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penalty assessed under Subchapter Q, for which the board has issued |
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a final order; [or] |
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(F) performed any service for which an |
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endorsement is required under this chapter and either: |
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(i) was not employed with a company |
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licensed under this chapter at the time the service was performed; |
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or |
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(ii) performed the service for a company |
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licensed under this chapter that was not listed on the individual's |
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registration without informing the board of the individual's |
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employment with the company within a reasonable period; or |
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(G) failed to qualify a new manager within the |
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time required by board rule following the termination of a manager; |
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or |
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(2) that the license holder of a registrant or |
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commissioned security officer has submitted to the department |
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sufficient evidence that the registrant or commissioned security |
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officer: |
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(A) engaged in fraud or deceit while employed by |
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the license holder; or |
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(B) committed theft while performing work as a |
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registrant or commissioned security officer. |
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(d) The department may revoke a license, certificate, |
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registration, endorsement, or commission if the person holding that |
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credential under this chapter submits payment of a fee or penalty |
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that is returned for insufficient funds and the person has received |
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notice and an opportunity to provide payment in full. |
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SECTION 9. Section 1702.364(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) On receiving written notice from a law enforcement |
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agency that a person has been charged with or convicted of an |
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offense that would make the person ineligible for a license, |
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certificate of registration, endorsement, or security officer |
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commission under Section 1702.113 or 1702.163, or a rule adopted |
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under Section 1702.004(b), the department shall: |
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(1) summarily deny the person's application for a |
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license, registration, endorsement, or security officer |
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commission; |
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(2) in the event of pending charges, summarily suspend |
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the person's license, certificate of registration, endorsement, or |
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security officer commission; or |
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(3) in the event of a conviction, summarily revoke the |
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person's license, certificate of registration, endorsement, or |
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security officer commission. |
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SECTION 10. Subchapter P, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 1702.3841 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1702.3841. INSUFFICIENT INSURANCE COVERAGE; OFFENSE. |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person is subject to Section |
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1702.124 and knowingly fails to provide and maintain a certificate |
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of insurance or other documentary evidence of insurance sufficient |
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to cover all of the business activities of the person related to |
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private security. A person is presumed to have acted knowingly for |
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purposes of this subsection if the person received reasonable |
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notice and an opportunity to provide or maintain the documentation |
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required by Section 1702.124 and failed to do so. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 11. Section 12.092(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The medical advisory board shall assist the Department |
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of Public Safety of the State of Texas in determining whether: |
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(1) an applicant for a driver's license or a license |
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holder is capable of safely operating a motor vehicle; or |
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(2) an applicant for or holder of a license to carry a |
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concealed handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, |
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Government Code, or an applicant for or holder of a commission as a |
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security officer under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is capable |
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of exercising sound judgment with respect to the proper use and |
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storage of a handgun. |
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SECTION 12. Sections 1702.113(b) and (c), Occupations Code, |
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are repealed. |
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SECTION 13. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to |
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Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, apply only to an application for an |
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original or renewal license, registration, or endorsement |
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submitted to the Texas Private Security Board on or after January 1, |
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2014. An application submitted before January 1, 2014, is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) The Texas Private Security Board shall adopt rules to |
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implement the changes in law made by this Act not later than January |
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1, 2014. |
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SECTION 14. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |