SPONSOR: West
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions by a vote of 13 to 2.
This bill allows the General Assembly, the House of Representatives, or the Senate to hire legislative security officers to ensure the proper security and the functioning of the General Assembly. The legislative security officers will be certified by the Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) Commission and will have all the powers granted to law enforcement officers in this State.
This bill contains an emergency clause.
This bill is similar to HB 1193 (2025).
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that currently, Capitol security officers have the power to arrest individuals and all of our security officers are POST certified. This does not expand their ability to operate outside the Capitol, and it doesn't weaken any other law enforcement agency. This bill is necessary to give our security officers access to important law enforcement information systems.
Testifying in person for the bill were Representative West and Arnie Dienoff.
OPPONENTS: Those who oppose the bill say that this enhances the control and power of the government against the people of the State. This points in a very concerning direction; the State and the legislature are out of control, and the civil liberties of the people are being infringed upon.
Testifying in person against the bill was Jon Stambaugh.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony and witnesses testifying online can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: