As of 4 p.m., on Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, the 29th day of the 80th Legislature’s 1st Regular Session, 1086 bills have been introduced and have passed 44. Of those, 13 passed this week and have been sent to the Senate for further consideration. The bills passed by the House this week include:
House Bill 2013 would increase the training that a dispatcher must have to work at a 911 center, adding a new 40 hour course in “emergency medical dispatch.” The bill further would require each dispatch center to develop protocols for dispatching their emergency medical calls.
House Bill 2368 would require the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to establish an apprenticeship program. This bill would update the existing system for training and procedures relating to the practice of beauty care.
House Bill 2503 would authorize the Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists to require government identification to be presented prior to issuance of licenses. The bill also authorizes the board to retain all information regarding licensees.
House Bill 2562 would move the State Athletic Commission under the Lottery Commission to assist in administrative functions. The bill would also make mixed martial arts a licensed sport with regulations set forth by the State Athletic Commission.
House Bill 2663 would require the Public Service Commission to be present in hearings in which it has retained the right to serve as the initial fact finder in the case. This would include any associated public protest hearings.
House Bill 2708 would remove the 12-month limitation on the length of agreements between law-enforcement agencies. Rather than expiring after a year, agreements under this proposed bill would remain in effect unless and until the agreement is changed or withdrawn by the head of one of the law-enforcement agencies.
House Bill 2750 would make the commission of sexual assault a consideration when issuing the permanent or temporary end to a parent-child relationship. This bill would allow a judge to take into consideration sexual assault or sexual abuse when deciding whether or not to remove a child from the home.
House Bill 2752 would increase the age of persons applying for appointment to a position on a police force within certain cities. The age would be increased from 35 to 40 years old. This increase will pertain to any person(s) applying for a position in a Class I or Class II city.
House Bill 2757 would provide for the evaluation of professional personnel within the public school systems. This bill would require the State Board of Education to establish a task force to address rule changes for personnel evaluations. The bill would also require the state board to report the evaluations to the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education Accountability.
House Bill 2787 would transfer the licensing of private investigators and security guards from the Secretary of the State to the Division of Justice and Community Services. All procedures, rules and regulations for these professions would be transferred to the Division of Justice.
House Bill 2864 would create a misdemeanor crime of unlawful restraint in the first or second degree. First-degree unlawful restraint would be considered intentionally restraining someone by use without proper authority. This would carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail and a $500 fee. Second-degree restraint is defined in this bill as restraint based on intimidation. This crime would carry a maximum of six months in jail and a $100 fine.
House Bill 2871 would provide that the Brownfield Economic Development districts comply with local planning laws. This compliance must take place before an application for such districts would be approved.
House Bill 2936 would change the date of the canvassing votes in a primary election. This bill would change the date from the Friday following a primary election to the Monday following a primary election.
