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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of certain private security companies |
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and occupations; expanding the applicability of an occupational |
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license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 1702.002, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by amending Subdivisions (1) and (6-a) and adding Subdivisions (4), |
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(4-a), and (4-b) to read as follows: |
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(1) "Alarm system" means: |
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(A) electronic equipment and devices designed to |
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detect or signal: |
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(i) an unauthorized entry or attempted |
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entry of a person or object into a residence, business, or area |
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monitored by the system; or |
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(ii) the occurrence of a robbery or other |
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emergency; or |
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(B) electronic equipment and devices using a |
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computer or data processor designed to control the access of a |
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person, vehicle, or object through a door, gate, or entrance into |
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the controlled area of a residence or business[; or
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[(C)
a television camera or still camera system
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that:
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[(i)
records or archives images of property
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or individuals in a public or private area of a residence or
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business; or
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[(ii)
is monitored by security personnel or
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services]. |
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(4) "Camera systems company" means a person who |
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performs the activities described by Section 1702.1057. |
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(4-a) "Closed circuit television or still camera |
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system" means a device or system of devices that: |
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(A) records or transmits, including transmission |
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by an intranet or Internet device, an image or series of images for |
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the purposes of security or surveillance; or |
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(B) is monitored by security personnel or an |
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alarm systems monitor for the purposes of security or surveillance. |
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(4-b) "Closed circuit television or still camera |
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system" does not include: |
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(A) a device or system of devices that is used |
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exclusively: |
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(i) to view or monitor traffic conditions |
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on public roads; |
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(ii) to detect motor vehicle violations on |
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public roads; |
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(iii) for telephone or video conferencing; |
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(iv) to monitor a manufacturing process; |
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(v) for a medical purpose by medical |
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practitioners; |
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(vi) by a courtroom reporter for recording |
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or archiving depositions or testimony; |
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(vii) in the course of an ongoing |
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investigation, when installed by and remaining under the control of |
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a licensed investigations company; |
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(viii) by a law enforcement agency to |
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monitor criminal activity; or |
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(ix) for any purpose other than for the |
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purposes of security or surveillance; and |
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(B) a camera used for videoconferencing that is |
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integrated or attached to: |
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(i) a wireless communication device capable |
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of using a commercial mobile service as defined by 47 U.S.C. Section |
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332; |
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(ii) computer equipment, as defined by |
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Section 361.952, Health and Safety Code; or |
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(iii) a television, as defined by Section |
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361.952, Health and Safety Code. |
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(6-a) "Electronic access control device" means an |
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electronic, electrical, or computer-based device, including a |
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telephone entry system, that allows access to a controlled area [of
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a business,] but that is not monitored by security personnel or |
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services and does not send a signal to which law enforcement or |
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emergency services respond. The term does not include: |
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(A) a mechanical device, such as a deadbolt or |
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lock; or |
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(B) an operator for opening or closing a |
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commercial gate or door or an accessory, such as a fixed or portable |
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transmitter, card-reader, or keypad, if the operator or accessory |
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is used only to activate the gate or door and is not connected to an |
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alarm system. |
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SECTION 2. Section 1702.102(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Unless the person holds a license as a security services |
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contractor, a person may not: |
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(1) act as an alarm systems company, armored car |
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company, camera systems company, courier company, guard company, |
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guard dog company, locksmith company, or private security |
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consultant company; |
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(2) offer to perform the services of a company in |
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Subdivision (1); or |
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(3) engage in business activity for which a license is |
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required under this chapter. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1702.1057 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1702.1057. CAMERA SYSTEMS COMPANY. A person acts as a |
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camera systems company for purposes of this chapter if the person: |
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(1) installs, services at the place of installation, |
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or sells a closed circuit television or still camera system for a |
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fee; or |
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(2) offers to perform a service described by |
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Subdivision (1) for a fee. |
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SECTION 4. Section 1702.221(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) An individual must obtain the appropriate endorsement |
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in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and related |
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administrative rules if the individual: |
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(1) is employed as: |
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(A) an alarm instructor; |
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(B) an alarm systems installer; |
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(C) an alarm systems monitor; |
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(D) an electronic access control device |
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installer; |
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(E) a level 3 classroom or firearm instructor; |
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(F) a locksmith; |
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(G) a dog trainer; |
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(H) a manager or branch office manager; |
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(I) a noncommissioned security officer; |
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(J) a level 4 personal protection instructor; |
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(K) a private investigator; |
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(L) a private security consultant; |
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(M) a security salesperson; [or] |
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(N) a camera systems installer; or |
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(O) an individual whose duties include |
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performing another activity for which an endorsement is required |
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under Subsection (e); or |
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(2) is an owner who oversees the security-related |
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aspects of the business, officer, partner, or shareholder of a |
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license holder. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter J, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1702.2228 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1702.2228. CAMERA SYSTEMS INSTALLER. (a) An |
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individual acts as a camera systems installer for purposes of this |
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chapter if the individual: |
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(1) installs, maintains, or repairs a closed circuit |
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television or still camera system for a fee; |
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(2) offers the services described by Subdivision (1) |
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to the public for a fee; or |
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(3) advertises the services under Subdivision (1) to |
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the public or represents to the public that the person is a camera |
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systems installer. |
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(b) An individual does not act as a camera systems installer |
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for purposes of this chapter if the individual is mounting or |
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positioning hardware for a closed circuit television or still |
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camera system or connecting that hardware to an electrical outlet |
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and the individual: |
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(1) accomplishes those activities without activation |
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of or access to the recording or transmitting functions of the |
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closed circuit television or still camera system; |
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(2) performs those activities at a premises where the |
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closed circuit television or still camera system is not connected |
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to a separate dedicated recording device; |
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(3) performs those activities for a fee; |
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(4) has been subjected to a local and national |
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background check within the year preceding the date of the |
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installation that demonstrated that the individual has not been |
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previously convicted of a sexual offense or any category of a |
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criminal offense greater than a Class B misdemeanor; and |
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(5) provides verification, either personally or |
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through the entity for whom the individual is acting as an agent, |
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that the background check under Subdivision (4) demonstrates that |
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the individual who performs the activities has not been previously |
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convicted of a sexual offense or any category of a criminal offense |
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greater than a Class B misdemeanor on request of the owner or tenant |
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of the residence or business location where the individual performs |
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the installation activities. |
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SECTION 6. Section 1702.223, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) An alarm systems installer may sell, install, maintain, |
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repair, or service a closed circuit television or still camera |
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system. |
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SECTION 7. Section 1702.224(a), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) An individual acts as an alarm systems monitor for |
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purposes of this chapter if the individual monitors an alarm |
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system, closed circuit television or still camera system, or |
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detection device. |
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SECTION 8. Section 1702.324(b), Occupations Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a manufacturer or a manufacturer's authorized |
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distributor while selling equipment intended for resale; |
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(2) a person engaged exclusively in the business of |
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obtaining and providing information to: |
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(A) determine creditworthiness; |
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(B) collect debts; or |
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(C) ascertain the reliability of information |
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provided by an applicant for property, life, or disability |
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insurance or an indemnity or surety bond; |
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(3) a person engaged exclusively in the business of |
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repossessing property that is secured by a mortgage or other |
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security interest; |
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(4) a person who is engaged in the business of |
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psychological testing or other testing and interviewing services, |
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including services to determine attitudes, honesty, intelligence, |
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personality, and skills, for preemployment purposes; |
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(5) a person who: |
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(A) is engaged in obtaining information that is a |
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public record under Chapter 552, Government Code, regardless of |
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whether the person receives compensation; |
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(B) is not a full-time employee, as defined by |
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Section 61.001, Labor Code, of a person licensed under this |
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chapter; and |
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(C) does not perform any other act that requires |
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a license under this chapter; |
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(6) a licensed engineer practicing engineering or |
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directly supervising engineering practice under Chapter 1001, |
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including forensic analysis, burglar alarm system engineering, and |
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necessary data collection; |
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(7) an employee of a cattle association who inspects |
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livestock brands under the authority granted to the cattle |
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association by the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards |
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Administration of the United States Department of Agriculture; |
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(8) a landman performing activities in the course and |
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scope of the landman's business; |
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(9) an attorney while engaged in the practice of law; |
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(10) a person who obtains a document for use in |
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litigation under an authorization or subpoena issued for a written |
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or oral deposition; |
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(11) an admitted insurer, insurance adjuster, agent, |
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or insurance broker licensed by the state, performing duties in |
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connection with insurance transacted by that person; |
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(12) a person who on the person's own property or on |
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property owned or managed by the person's employer: |
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(A) installs, changes, or repairs a: |
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(i) mechanical security device; or |
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(ii) closed circuit television or still |
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camera system; |
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(B) repairs an electronic security device; or |
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(C) cuts or makes a key for a security device; |
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(13) security personnel, including security contract |
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personnel, working at a commercial nuclear power plant licensed by |
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the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; |
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(14) a person or firm licensed as an accountant or |
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accounting firm under Chapter 901, an owner of an accounting firm, |
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or an employee of an accountant or accounting firm while performing |
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services regulated under Chapter 901; |
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(15) a retailer, wholesaler, or other person who sells |
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mechanical security devices, including locks and deadbolts, but who |
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does not: |
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(A) service mechanical security devices for the |
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public outside of the person's premises; or |
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(B) claim to act as a locksmith; |
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(16) an employee while performing investigative |
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services that would otherwise be subject to this chapter for a |
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federally insured financial institution or an entity regulated by |
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the: |
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(A) Texas Department of Insurance; |
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(B) [Office of Thrift Supervision;
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[(C)] Securities and Exchange Commission; |
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[(D) Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation;] or |
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(C) [(E)] Financial Industry Regulatory |
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Authority; |
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(17) a social worker who holds a license issued under |
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Chapter 505 who is engaged in the practice of social work; |
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(18) persons licensed under Chapter 1101, an |
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association thereof, their authorized agents, or a multiple listing |
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service, engaged in the business of selling, maintaining, |
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repairing, programming, or placing lockboxes used for accessing |
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real property; [or] |
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(19) an automobile club that holds a certificate of |
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authority under Chapter 722, Transportation Code, its |
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subcontractor, or a business that provides similar services, that |
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unlocks a vehicle at the request of the owner or operator of the |
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vehicle and that does not otherwise perform a locksmith service; or |
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(20) a retailer, wholesaler, or other person who sells |
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closed circuit television or still camera systems and does not: |
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(A) install or service closed circuit television |
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or still camera systems for the public outside the person's |
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premises; or |
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(B) claim to act as a camera systems company. |
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SECTION 9. Section 1702.328, Occupations Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1702.328. SECURITY SYSTEMS SALES AND INSTALLATION |
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EXEMPTIONS. This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a person who owns and installs a burglar detection |
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or alarm device or a closed circuit television or still camera |
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system on the person's own property or[, if the person does not
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charge for the device or the installation,] installs the system or |
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device for the protection of the person's personal property located |
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on another person's property and does not, as a normal business |
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practice, install the systems or devices on the property of |
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another, and who does not perform any other act that requires a |
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license under this chapter; |
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(2) a person in the business of building construction |
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that installs electrical wiring and devices that may include in |
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part the installation of a burglar alarm or detection device or a |
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closed circuit television or still camera system if: |
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(A) the person is a party to a contract that |
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provides that: |
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(i) the installation will be performed, |
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[under the direct supervision of, and] inspected, and certified |
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by[,] a person licensed to install and certify the alarm or |
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detection device or closed circuit television or still camera |
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system; and |
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(ii) the license holder assumes full |
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responsibility for the installation of the system [alarm] or |
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[detection] device; and |
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(B) the person does not service or maintain alarm |
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systems, electronic access control devices, locks, closed circuit |
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television or still camera systems, or detection devices; |
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(3) a person who sells or installs automobile burglar |
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alarm devices and who does not perform any other act that requires a |
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license under this chapter; [or] |
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(4) a person who sells exclusively by e-commerce, over |
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the counter transactions, or mail order, alarm systems, electronic |
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access control devices, locks, closed circuit television or still |
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camera systems, or detection devices; or |
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(5) a local governmental entity that installs or has a |
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licensed contractor install a closed circuit television or still |
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camera system for purposes of public safety. |
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SECTION 10. (a) The changes in law made by this Act to |
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Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, apply only to an application for an |
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original or renewal license, registration, or endorsement |
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submitted to the Texas Private Security Board on or after January 1, |
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2016. An application submitted before January 1, 2016, is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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(b) The Texas Private Security Board shall adopt rules to |
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implement the changes in law made by this Act not later than January |
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1, 2016. A person is not required to obtain a registration or |
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endorsement under Section 1702.2228, Occupations Code, as added by |
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this Act, before January 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect immediately if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate |
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effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |