Amends TCA Title 29; Title 57 and Title 62, Chapter 35.

ON APRIL 13, 2023, THE HOUSE ADOPTED AMENDMENT #1 AND PASSED HOUSE BILL 379, AS AMENDED.<br /> <br /> AMENDMENT #1 rewrites this bill to make changes to present law relative to security guards/officers, as described below.<br /> <br /> CARRYING A WEAPON<br /> <br /> Present law prohibits an unarmed security guard/officer employed by a propriety security organization from carrying a weapon of any kind. This amendment removes this prohibition.<br /> <br /> UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENTS, PUBLICATIONS, AND ACTIVITIES<br /> <br /> Present law:<br /> <br /> (1) Makes it unlawful for a person to knowingly employ as a security guard/officer an individual who does not hold a valid registration card of the appropriate type, except as provided in present law;<br /> <br /> (2) Makes a violation of (1) a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by fine only; and <br /> <br /> (3) Requires the alcoholic beverage commission or a beer board to suspend a license or permit for on-premises consumption of a person for a violation of (1) for a period of one month per violation. However, this does not limit the alcoholic beverage commission's or a beer board's ability to seek to revoke or summarily suspend the license or permit. <br /> <br /> This amendment makes the following revisions to (1)-(3) above:<br /> <br /> (A) Revises (1) above to remove the reference to exemptions; and <br /> <br /> (B) Clarifies that (3) above does not apply when the improperly registered or unregistered security guard/officer was employed by a contract security company that was contracted with to provide security services at the establishment that holds the license or permit to serve alcohol for on-premises consumption.<br /> <br /> EXEMPTIONS <br /> <br /> This amendment provides that an employee of a restaurant or hotel, whose primary responsibilities do not involve the provision of security guard and patrol services, is exempt from the Private Protective Services Licensing and Regulatory Act.<br />