Bill > HB4502

This bill addresses court security by making several key changes to existing law. It requires court security committees at the municipal and district court levels to develop court emergency management plans and establishes more specific guidelines for these committees' composition and responsibilities. The bill changes language from "may" to "shall" regarding committee recommendations for courthouse security resources, indicating a more mandatory approach. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of "court employee" and significantly increases criminal penalties for harassment of court employees and judges, with escalating levels of offense based on repeat violations. Specifically, harassing a court employee can now be a Class A misdemeanor, a state jail felony if repeated, while harassing a judge can become a third-degree felony for repeated offenses. The bill also requires the judicial security division to develop a model court emergency management plan and clarifies that these court security committees are not considered governmental bodies for open meetings purposes. These provisions aim to enhance court safety, improve security planning, and provide stronger legal protections for court personnel by creating more robust mechanisms for security and increasing potential consequences for harassment.

Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB4502