The bill amends the Health and Safety Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure to grant the Harris County Hospital District the authority to employ and commission peace officers. Specifically, it adds the Harris County Hospital District to the list of hospital districts that can employ peace officers, which previously included only the Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, and El Paso County Hospital Districts. This change is reflected in the amended language of Section 281.057(a) of the Health and Safety Code and Article 2A.001 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, where the phrase "or the El Paso County Hospital District" is deleted and replaced with "or the Harris County Hospital District may employ and commission peace officers."

The bill is designed to enhance the security and law enforcement capabilities of the Harris County Hospital District by allowing it to have its own commissioned peace officers. This legislative change aims to improve safety within the district's facilities and provide a more immediate law enforcement presence. The bill will take effect immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will become effective on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 281.057 (Health and Safety Code 281)
House Committee Report: Health and Safety Code 281.057 (Health and Safety Code 281)