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TEXAS HOUSE PASSES COURT SECURITY BILL

by Jade Champion

The Texas House gave unanimous preliminary approval to a court security bill inspired by a 2015 assassination attempt on an Austin judge. The chamber needs to pass the measure one more time before it heads back to the Senate.

Senate Bill 42, by state Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, would require local law enforcement to send reports to the Office of Court Administration about any court security incidents. It would also create a filing fee in civil cases to fund support for training for court security. And it would create a judicial security division that would be a central point for court security information. It would take effect on Sept. 1. 

The bill is named in honor of state District Judge Julie Kocurek, who was severely injured when an assailant shot at her several times in an attack outside her home. She suffered serious injuries from shattered glass and shrapnel but returned to the bench in early 2016 after months of rehabilitation.

These are some of the current recommendations for SB42:

  • • Create the position of director of security and emergency preparedness at the office of court administration;
  • • Establish local court security committees. The committee could make recommendations but not direct the appropriation of or expenditure of county funds related to court security;
  • • Require court security training for judges and court personnel. At the request of OCA and to preclude an unfunded mandate, it would add a $5 filing fee in civil cases to pay for court security training;
  • • Facilitate removal of judges personal information from public documents. The county clerk would be responsible for removing information from appraisal documents only from online databases and only upon a judges request to a county clerk;
  • • Authorize the Department of Public Safety, at its discretion, to provide personal security to threatened or attacked judges when the attack or threat is deemed  credible;
    • • Require a copy of a security incident report to be provided to the presiding judge of the court in which the incident occurred.

When it comes to courthouse security, Guardian is your one-stop-shop for solutions relating to SB42. From assisting in forming courthouse security teams to providing security products, Guardian can help protect your county. Guardian has secured counties and courthouses Texas-wide for over 25 years. With innovative products like facial recognition cameras to shooter-detection software, Guardian is ready to tackle your security needs. 

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