Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

__________________ S TATE
FFAIRS/AgenciesAgencies
TATE AFFAIRS
77 th Texas Legislature
Continuation and Functions of the Texas Department of Aging - S.B. 535
by Senator Carona, et al.
House Sponsors: Representative Jesse Jones, et al.
Under current law, the Texas Department of Human Services (DHS) is scheduled to become the Texas
Department of Aging and Disability Services (TDADS) in 2003. The Texas Department on Aging will be
abolished and all of its powers, duties, functions, and activities transferred to TDADS.
Continues the Texas Department on Aging as a single state agency for two additional years.
Requires the commissioner of health and human services no later than January 1, 2003, to identify the
functions of the Texas Department on Aging, recommend functions that could be transferred to DHS,
evaluate the degree of coordination between the Texas Department on Aging and DHS, and report the
findings to the legislature
The Texas Commission on Private Security - S.B. 1224
by Senator Harris
House Sponsor: Representative Bob Turner
The Texas Commission on Private Security (commission) is responsible for regulating occupations such as
investigators and security officers.
Authorizes the commission, as part of its general powers and duties, to commission investigators employed
full-time by the commission as peace officers.
Removes the statutory limitations on license fees that the commission may charge, although the
commission continues to be required to establish reasonable and necessary fees that produce sufficient
revenue to fulfill its duties.
Requires the commission to develop a continuing education course required for renewal of a security officer
commission.
Provides that a person commits a state jail felony if the person contracts with a bail bond surety to secure
the appearance of a person who has forfeited a bail bond, unless the person is a peace officer, an
individual licensed as a private investigator or the manager of a licensed investigations company, a
commissioned security officer employed by a licensed guard company, a licensed bail bondsman, the
agent designated in the license application of a corporate bail bond surety, or a full-time employee of a bail
bond surety who holds a license as an individual or a full-time employee of the agent designated in the
license application of a corporate bail bond surety.
Expands the list of persons who may obtain an arrest warrant to include certain bail bondsmen.
Texas Food for Health Advisory Council - S.B. 1454
by Senator Lucio
House Sponsor: Representative Flores
Creates the Texas Food for Health Advisory Council designed to increase consumption of Texas fruits and
vegetables by promoting the benefits of a healthy diet and generating revenue for agricultural development
Senate Research Center 260