Law Enforcement & Public Safety
In 2003, Hopson joint-authored a bill dealing with law enforcement. House Bill 252, known as the “Move Over Act” requires motor vehicle traffic to slow down in the vicinity of a stationary emergency vehicle that has its lights on.
HB 252 specifies that a vehicle driving on a road with two or more lanes in one direction must vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle. Drivers must also slow to a speed not to exceed 20 miles an hour below the posted speed limit when the posted speed limit is 25 miles per hour or more; or five miles an hour when the posted speed is below 25 miles per hour. A violation of this law would result in a fine of no less than $60, and not to exceed $200.
“Too often motorists do not yield to emergency vehicles tending to an emergency or accident, and that can put our emergency workers and others in jeopardy,” Rep. Hopson said. “All we are asking is for drivers to move over and give our men and women of law enforcement and EMTs room to help those in need without fear for their lives.”
Award
Award of Recognition for Continued Commitment to Law Enforcement by the Jacksonville Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #56, 2004
Rep. Hopson Authors Bill to Protect Law Enforcement Officers
In 2005, Hopson (Jacksonville) introduced House Bill 1242 that if passed would increase the penalty to a third degree felony if a detained person (arrested) spits or causes a law enforcement officer to come into contact with a bodily fluid with the intent to harass the officer.
“I believe that we must, as a Legislature, recognize the needs of our law enforcement officers and give them as much protection as we can,” Rep. Hopson said.
The Combined Law Enforcement Association of Texas (CLEAT) has put their stamp of approval on this bill in hopes that the officers around the state will be better protected. “Law enforcement officers spend all their time protecting the communities and families of Texas, and officers never know what dangerous situation they may encounter while they are on the job,” Charley Wilkison, Director of Legislative & Political Affairs for CLEAT, said.
“There are lots of bad characters out there who would love nothing better than to infect an officer with a deadly disease. This proposal shows that our elected leaders care about officers and the often violent nature of their work. Representative Hopson has a reputation of working to make things better, and I commend him for his attention to this important piece of legislation.”
Likewise, Rep. Hopson has already filed a bill that would increase the hazardous duty pay for our Department of Public Safety officers and corrections officer for the dangerous job they do protecting our communities. House Bill 138 will increase the monthly hazardous duty pay for those state employees entitled to hazardous duty pay receive from $7.00 a month for each year of service to a graduated scale that will start at $10.00 a month for each year of service and will increase $5.00 for every five years of service. This scale would top out at $25.00 a month for each year of service for 15 or more years of service.
2009
SB 650 Relating to certain peace officers commissioned by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
2007
HB 1212 Relating to the penalties for intoxication assault and intoxication manslaughter and to the sentencing of defendants convicted of those offenses.
HB 2112 Relating to the prosecution of an offense prohibiting the exhibition, use, or threatened exhibition or use of a firearm in or on school property or a school bus.
SB 157 Relating to the definition of criminally injurious conduct for purposes of the Crime Victims’ Compensation Act.
SB 378 Relating to the use of force or deadly force in defense of a person.
2005
HB 129 Relating to the authority to require a convicted person to perform manual labor for a nonprofit organization or a cemetery maintained by the county.
HB 225 Relating to the issuance and expiration of certain licenses to carry a concealed handgun.
HB 304 Relating to conditions of employment for police officers employed by certain municipalities.
HB 823 Relating to the applicability of the offense of unlawful carrying of weapons to certain persons and to the consequence of certain presumptions in the prosecution of a criminal offense.
HB 2868 Relating to civil liability for provision of alcohol to a minor.
SB 599 Relating to the eligibility of a criminal defendant for release from jail after a delay in prosecution.
2003
HB 1236 Relating to information required to be placed in a pen packet accompanying a defendant on transfer from county jail to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
HB 2138 Relating to the use of certain electronic devices for the purpose of committing identity theft; providing criminal penalties.
SB 729 Relating to the elements of the offense of harassment by persons in certain correctional facilities.
SB 611 Relating to printing a social security number on an identification card or other identification device; providing a civil penalty.
2001
HB 1314 Relating to requiring certain inmates of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice to participate in treatment programs.
HB 1600 Relating to the punishment for the offense of taking or attempting to take a weapon from a peace officer, parole officer, or community supervision and corrections department officer.
SB 753 Relating to the regulation of controlled substances under the Texas Controlled Substances Act, to the accessibility of certain information collected under that Act, and to the punishment for certain offenses under that Act.
Welcome!
“Welcome to ChuckHopson.com! I hope that you will find information here that is both useful and interesting, and that you'll continue to provide me with your input and ideas.
Representing Cherokee, Houston, Panola, and Rusk Counties in the Texas Legislature is truly an honor. Let’s continue to work together to make our region and our state an even better place to call home.”
