TO ALLOW A MUNICIPAL PORT AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH A POLICE FORCE; AND TO ESTABLISH THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF A MUNICIPAL PORT AUTHORITY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

HB 1711 allows municipal port authorities to create their own police forces. The bill specifies that these officers would share jurisdiction with local city and county law enforcement within the port authority's facilities and adjacent areas. Key provisions define patrol zones to include the port's industrial facilities, nearby roads, shoreline areas, and up to five miles along navigable waterways adjacent to the port. This directly affects port authorities seeking dedicated security for their operations, without expanding police powers beyond these defined boundaries. The bill focuses on enabling port-specific enforcement authority through clear jurisdictional boundaries.