Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

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Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#1

Post by Charles L. Cotton »

Two bills dealing with volunteer church security personnel should come up for a vote in the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee on Monday, March 13th at 8:00AM. Please call and email every member of the committee and ask them to vote for HB421 and to vote against HB659. HB421 is a much-needed Bill for the vast majority of churches that cannot afford to hire paid security companies and guards. The Members and phone number are listed below, but you will have to ask for their email address.

HB659 is nothing more than the security industry's attempt to derail HB421. Testimony on the Bill was grossly misleading as to the scope of HB659 and the true cost to volunteer security personnel operating under a Letter of Authority. HB659's author testified that he was going to file a committee substitute that would repeal the $400 initial fee and the $250 renewal fees. However, LTCs who want to carry their self-defense handguns will still have to go to a 40 training course and pay for their security guard license. I think, but I'm not sure, that they would also be forced to wear a uniform and carry their handgun openly. Again, I'm not positive on this issue, but the Bill is bad even if a uniform is not required. Volunteers that are involved with protecting people (ex. the Pastor) would have to obtain additional training at additional cost. HB659 is a bad bill.

Please act today!
Chas.

House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee:

Rep. Phil King - Chairman (512) 463-0738
Rep. Poncho Nevarez - Vice-Chairman (512) 463-0566
Rep. DeWayne Burns (512) 463-0538
Rep. Gina Hinojosa (512) 463-0668
Rep. Justin Holland(512) 463-0484
Rep. Jarvis Johnson (512) 463-0554
Rep. Will Metcalf (512) 463-0726
Rep. Matt Schaefer (512) 463-0584
Rep. John Wray (512) 463-0516
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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#2

Post by carlson1 »

Done! I will also pass this out in our church and have our members call.
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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#3

Post by Greybeard »

' Got voice mail and had to leave a message on 6 out of 9 just after 4:00 p.m. on this fine Friday. Gal in Rep. Burns office said she thinks the vote is actually next Tuesday morning. Gal in Rep. Metcalf's office was quite familiar with 421 and said they are much in support of after similar bill stalled last session.
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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#4

Post by The Annoyed Man »

Shoot! Just now saw this. Will try phoning tomorrow, if they're open.
“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#5

Post by TexasJohnBoy »

Leave a message + email. I will be
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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#6

Post by TrueFlog »

What was the outcome of the committee meeting regarding these builds?
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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#7

Post by Charles L. Cotton »

TrueFlog wrote:What was the outcome of the committee meeting regarding these builds?
Nothing yet. The morning session of the Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee only voted one pending bill. The Committee goes back into session after adjournment of the House floor session. It may or may not vote other pending bills.

Chas.

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#8

Post by NotRPB »

That committee meets again this Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Several GunRights both Pro and Con bills to be heard, a few really bad bills for #2A/LTC rights
http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/tlodocs/ ... 108001.HTM

COMMITTEE: Homeland Security & Public Safety

TIME & DATE: 8:00 AM, Tuesday, April 11, 2017

PLACE: E2.014

CHAIR: Rep. Phil King

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#9

Post by gugisman »

HB 421 is headed to the house floor...
The committee vote was 6 for and 3 against.

Here is the bill analysis, as substituted:

BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 421
By: Rinaldi
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the Private Security Act restricts a place of religious worship from creating a volunteer security patrol without meeting stringent licensing requirements. These parties note that providing security services without the required licenses may subject a place of religious worship and its volunteers to a fine. C.S.H.B. 421 attempts to address these concerns by exempting volunteers providing security services at a place of religious worship from the Private Security Act.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 421 amends the Occupations Code to exempt a person who is providing volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship from the Private Security Act. The bill prohibits such a person from wearing a uniform or badge that contains the word "security" or that gives the person the appearance of being a peace officer, personal protection officer, or security officer.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 421 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1702.333 to read as follows:
Sec. 1702.333. PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP; CERTAIN VOLUNTEERS.

This chapter does not apply to a person who is providing volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.

SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Section 1702.333 to read as follows:
Sec. 1702.333. PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP; CERTAIN VOLUNTEERS. (a) In this section, "volunteer security services" means services or activities that are:
(1) regulated under this chapter; and
(2) provided without compensation or remuneration.
(b) This chapter does not apply to a person who is providing volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship.
(c) While providing volunteer security services under Subsection (b), a person may not wear a uniform or badge that:
(1) contains the word "security"; or
(2) gives the person the appearance of being a peace officer, personal protection officer, or security officer.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

Here is the witness list:

WITNESS LIST
HB 421
HOUSE COMMITTEE REPORT
Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee
March 7, 2017 - 8:00 AM
For :
Asmussen, Cindy (Self)
Busby, William (Self)
Cavett, Brett (Green Acres Baptist Church)
Chinn, Carl (Self)
Collins, Michael (Self)
Dunn, Ray (Self; Southcrest Baptist Church)
Hinton, Stephen (Self)
Hodges, Dana (Self)
Inman, Eric (Self)
Meeks, Jimmy (Self)
Visser, Steve (Self; Hedge Protection Ministries)
Against :
Chadwick, Charles (Self; National Organization for Church Security and Safety
Management)
Chadwick, Marian (Self; National organization of church security and safety management
NOCSSM)
Jones, Chris (Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT))
Kellis, Charles (Self; ASSIST (Associated Security Services and Investigative Services of
Texas))
On :
Bowie, RenEarl (Texas department of public safety)
Registering, but not testifying:
For :
Bradford, Tray e (Self)
Cargill, Michael (Self; Texans for Accountable Government)
Castilla, Cindi (Self; Dallas Eagle Forum - Volunteer)
King, James (Self; City of Cisco and many area churches)
Schlueter, Thomas (Self; Texas Apostolic Prayer Network)
Smith, Mary (Self)
Smith, Mary (Self)
Against :
Kildow, Randy (Texas assn. Of licensed investigators)
Oakley, Keith (ASSIST Associated Security Services and Investigators of Texas)
rodriguez, Jimmy (San Antonio Police Officers Association)
On :
Moninger, Steve (Department of public safety)

This is the fiscal report:

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 85TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

March 30, 2017

TO:
Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety

FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:
HB421 by Rinaldi (Relating to an exemption from application of the Private Security Act for volunteer security services provided at a place of religious worship.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Occupations Code to exempt an individual from the provisions of the Private Security Act if the individual is providing volunteer security services on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship. The bill would also proscribe individuals providing volunteer security services from presenting themselves as a peace officer, personal protection officer, or security officer. It is assumed any costs associated with implementing the provisions of this bill could be absorbed within existing resources.

This bill would take effect September 1, 2017.

Local Government Impact

No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:
405 Department of Public Safety
LBB Staff:
UP, FR, AI, JAW, WP

Personal comment/observations:

During public testimony the owner of Gatekeepers Security Services said that he was the person who posed the question to DPS that resulted in the opinion letter that agreed church security teams fall under 1702.

Another witness said he received an answer to his follow up question to DPS that reiterated how the original opinion was a non-binding "opinion"...

My guess is that the committee votes were partisan.

I went a day early to testify and added at least 2 representatives to the list of coauthors. On March 5th there was a primary author, Rinaldi, 2 joint authors, and 17 coauthors. As of today, there are 4 joint authors and 30 coauthors. Here is the current list:

Bill: HB 421
Legislative Session: 85(R)

Primary Author Date Filed

Rinaldi 11/21/2016

Joint Authors Date Signed On

Kuempel 03/07/2017
Villalba 03/15/2017
Phelan 02/20/2017
King, Phil 02/22/2017

Coauthors (30) Date Signed On

Anderson, Charles "Doc" 03/09/2017
Anderson, Rodney 02/21/2017
Biedermann 02/22/2017
Burkett 03/06/2017
Burns 03/15/2017
Burrows 02/21/2017
Cain 02/22/2017
Dean 03/06/2017
Faircloth 03/07/2017
Flynn 02/15/2017
Frank 03/07/2017
Hefner 02/16/2017
Keough 02/06/2017
Landgraf 03/15/2017
Lang 02/16/2017
Leach 03/22/2017
Metcalf 02/22/2017
Meyer 03/15/2017
Parker 03/07/2017
Paul 03/07/2017
Sanford 03/01/2017
Schaefer 03/07/2017
Schofield 02/27/2017
Shaheen 02/16/2017
Stickland 02/22/2017
Stucky 03/06/2017
Swanson 02/02/2017
Tinderholt 02/22/2017
White 02/21/2017
Zedler 02/21/2017

This is a real good time to contact representatives who aren't on the list yet. Maybe even a Democrat or two...?
Last edited by gugisman on Mon Apr 10, 2017 10:10 am, edited 2 times in total.

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#10

Post by Papa_Tiger »

All of this information can be found easily on the Texas Legislature Online site for HB 421:

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup ... Bill=HB421

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#11

Post by gugisman »

Many/most recorded broadcasts of the 85th House session committee hearings can be found here:

http://www.house.state.tx.us/video-audi ... dcasts/85/

And here is the recorded testimony on March 7th:

http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlaye ... p_id=12886

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#12

Post by gugisman »

Well... I spoke too soon. HB 421 is languishing in the hands of the House Calendars Committee. Apparantly, 38 representatives signed on to the bill aren't enough. It's not too late though to put pressure on the Calandars Committee. Call now to express your support for the bill: (512) 463-0758

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#13

Post by gugisman »

House Calendars Committee Members:

Chair: Rep. Todd Hunter
Vice Chair: Rep. Donna Howard
Members: Rep. Roberto R. Alonzo
Rep. Trent Ashby
Rep. Byron Cook
Rep. Sarah Davis
Rep. Charlie Geren
Rep. Helen Giddings
Rep. Kyle J. Kacal
Rep. Ken King
Rep. Linda Koop
Rep. Poncho Nevárez
Rep. Chris Paddie
Rep. Dade Phelan
Rep. Toni Rose

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#14

Post by gugisman »

Considered in calandars 05/03.
Last chance for phone calls is tomorrow...

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Re: Call-To-Action: HB421 & HB659

#15

Post by mdubtx »

Who do we call while in calendars? Is this our local representative or the members of the committee?
http://www.house.state.tx.us/committees ... ittee=C050

Sorry guys - I see now the committee members are listed two posts above my question. Will call tomorrow. Leaving my link though to make it easy for others to find as well. Thanks
May we never haver to draw but always be prepared.
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