HB167 Alabama 2019 Session

Under existing law, security personnel employed by the House of Representatives and the Senate are responsible for the security of the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth floors of the Alabama State House; other areas in the building used by the Legislature; and certain legislative space in the State Capitol

This bill would permit the House of Representatives and the Senate to employ House and Senate police officers whose operations would be supervised and controlled by the Clerk of the House of Representatives and the Secretary of the Senate respectively

This bill would provide that House and Senate police officers would be responsible for security in the entire Alabama State House, surrounding grounds, parking lots, and curtilages, and certain legislative areas of the State Capitol

This bill would specify that House and Senate police officers whose certification by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission is current would have the powers of peace officers and law enforcement officers in this state, and this power could be exercised anywhere in this state

This bill would provide, when authorized and as directed by House and Senate police officers, that part-time security employees could perform security duties at any location House and Senate police officers may perform such duties

This bill would provide, when authorized and as directed by House and Senate police officers, that contract security employees may perform security duties in the Alabama State House and other specified locations

This bill would permit House and Senate police officers, State Capitol police, state troopers, and other law enforcement officers, when authorized by a House or Senate police officer, to carry firearms and other deadly weapons in the Alabama State House

This bill would provide that, in addition to the Legislature, when requested by the Secretary of the Senate, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, or a House or Senate police officer or any combination thereof, every state department, agency, and bureau would assist in the manner requested in assuring the security of the Alabama State House

This bill would also provide contempt and criminal penalties for disorderly or disruptive conduct in the State House or the disruption of legislative proceedings and would authorize House or Senate police officers to arrest, with or without a warrant, any person committing any offense on property under their jurisdiction

Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose

The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment

Relating to House and Senate security; to amend Section 29-4-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the House of Representatives and the Senate to employ House and Senate police officers; to specify supervision and control, authority, jurisdiction, and powers; to restrict who may carry a firearm or deadly weapon in the Alabama State House and to specify criminal penalties for a violation; to amend Section 29-6-7, Code of Alabama 1975, to make conforming changes; to provide for contempt and criminal penalties for the disorderly conduct or disruption of legislative proceedings; to authorize House and Senate police officers to arrest any person committing any offense on property under their jurisdiction; to provide for pari materia construction; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Amendment 621 of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.05 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended.