The bill, introduced by Senator Zaffirini, aims to enhance court security in Texas by establishing a framework for developing court emergency management plans and defining the roles and responsibilities of court security committees. Key provisions include the requirement for commissioners courts and municipal governing bodies to prioritize recommendations from court security committees when allocating funds for courthouse security. Additionally, the bill mandates that these committees develop emergency management plans and outlines their composition, which includes representatives from law enforcement and local government.

Furthermore, the bill increases the criminal penalties for harassment of court employees and judges. It redefines the terms related to court employees and introduces stricter classifications for offenses against them, escalating penalties based on the severity of the offense and the status of the victim as a court employee or judge. The legislation also clarifies that court security committees are not considered governmental bodies under certain transparency laws, thereby allowing them to operate with more flexibility in their security planning and recommendations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 29.014, Government Code 30.00007, Government Code 72.015, Penal Code 42.07 (Government Code 72, Government Code 30, Government Code 29, Penal Code 42)