87(R) HB 1927 - Enrolled version

1 ACTrelatingto provisionsgoverningthecarryingof a firearmby apersonwho is 21 yearsof age or olderand not otherwiseprohibitedby stateor federallawfrompossessingthefirearmandto otherprovisionsrelatedto thecarrying,possessing,transporting,orst oringof a firearmor otherweapon; IT ENACTEDBY THE LEGISLATUREOF THE STATEOF shallbe knownas the FirearmCarryActof Legislatureof the Stateof Texasfindsthat:(1)AATheSecondAmendmentof theUnitedStatesConstitutionprotectsan individualrightto keepandbeararms,and to possessa firearmunconnectedwithservicein a militia,andto use thatfirearmfor traditionallylawfulpurposes,suchasself-d efensewithinthe home;(2)AASection23,ArticleI, of theTexasConstitutionsecuresfor Texascitizensthe rightto keepand beararms;(3)AApersonswhoarecurrentlyproh ibitedfrompossessingfirearmsunderstatean d federallaw willnot gaintherightto possessor carrya firearmunderthislegislation.

2 And(4)AApersonswhoarecurrentlyprohibited frompossessinga firearminclude:personsconvictedof a felonyasdescribedby the provisionsof ,PenalCode,personsconvictedof ,Penal1234567891011121314151617181920212 223241 Code,punishableas a ClassA misdemeanorand involvinga memberoftheperson s familyor household,certainpersonswhoarethesubject of a (c),PenalCode,and personsmeetingany of the criterialistedin 18 (g),includingpersonsadjudicatedto be ,Codeof CriminalProcedure,isamendedby addingSubsection(h) to readas follows:(h)(1)AAA peaceofficerwho is actingin the lawfuldischargeof the officer s officialdutiesmay disarma personat any timetheofficerreasonablybelievesit is necessaryfor the protectionoftheperson,officer,or thepersonbeforedischargingthepersonfromt he sceneif the officerdeterminesthatthe personisnot a threatto the officer,person,or anotherindividualand ifthe personhas not committeda violationthatresultsin the arrestof the person.

3 (2)AAA peaceofficerwhois actingin thelawfuldischargeof the officer s officialdutiesmay temporarilydisarmapersonwhenthe personentersa nonpublic,secureportionof a lawenforcementfacility,if the law enforcementagencyprovidesa gunlockeror othersecureareawherethe peaceofficercan securetheperson s peaceofficershallsecurethe handgunin thelockeror othersecureareaandshallreturnthehandgunt o thepersonimmediatelyafterthepersonleaves thenonpublic,secureportionof the law enforcementfacility.(3)AAFor purposesof thissubsection,"lawenforcementfacility"a nd"nonpublic,secureportionof a "havethe meaningsassignedby , (a),Codeof CriminalProcedure,isamendedto readas follows:(a)AAA personwhohasbeenplacedundera custodialornoncustodialarrestforcommissi onofeithera felonyormisdemeanoris entitledto haveall recordsand filesrelatingtothe arrestexpungedif:(1)AAthe personis triedfor the offensefor whichthepersonwas arrestedand is:(A)AAacquittedby thetrialcourt,exceptasprovidedby Subsection(c);[or](B)AAconvictedand subsequently:(i)AApardonedfora reasonotherthanthatdescribedby Subparagraph(ii).

4 Or(ii)AApardonedor otherwisegrantedreliefon the basisof actualinnocencewithrespectto thatoffense,ifthe applicablepardonor courtorderclearlyindicateson its facethatthe pardonor orderwas grantedor renderedon the basisof theperson s actualinnocence;or(C)AAconvictedof an offensecommittedbeforeSeptember1, 2021, (a),PenalCode,as thatsectionexistedbeforethatdate;or(2)AA thepersonhasbeenreleasedandthecharge,ifa ny,has not resultedin a finalconvictionand is no longerpendingand therewas no court-orderedcommunitysupervisionunderCh apter42A for the offense,unlessthe offenseis a ClassC misdemeanor, :(A)AAregardlessofwhetheranystatuteoflim itationsexistsfortheoffenseandwhetherany limitationsperiodfortheoffensehasexpired ,an indictmentor informationchargingthepersonwiththecommi ssionof a misdemeanoroffensebasedon theperson s arrestor chargingthepersonwiththecommissionof anyfelonyoffensearisingoutof thesametransactionfor whichthe personwas arrested:(i)AAhasnotbeenpresentedagainst thepersonat any timefollowingthe arrest,and.

5 (a)AAat least180dayshaveelapsedfromthe dateof arrestif the arrestfor whichthe expunctionwassoughtwas for an offensepunishableas a ClassC misdemeanorand iftherewas no felonychargearisingout of the sametransactionforwhichthe personwas arrested;(b)AAat leastone yearhas elapsedfromthe dateof arrestif the arrestfor whichthe expunctionwas soughtwas for an offensepunishableas a ClassB or A misdemeanorand iftherewas no felonychargearisingout of the sametransactionforwhichthe personwas arrested;(c)AAat leastthreeyearshaveelapsedfromthe dateof arrestif the arrestfor whichthe expunctionwassoughtwas for an offensepunishableas a felonyor if therewas afelonychargearisingoutof thesametransactionforwhichthepersonwas arrested;or(d) anycriminalinvestigationor prosecution,includingan investigationor prosecutionof anotherperson;or(ii)AAif presentedat any timefollowingthearrest,wasdismissedor quashed,andthecourtfindsthattheindictmen tor informationwas dismissedor quashedbecause:(a)AAthepersoncompleteda veteranstreatmentcourtprogramcreatedunde rChapter124,GovernmentCode,or formerlaw,subjectto Subsection(a-3);(b)AAthepersoncompleteda mentalhealthcourtprogramcreatedunderChap ter125,GovernmentCode,orformerlaw,subjec tto Subsection(a-4);(c)AAthepersoncompleteda ,GovernmentCode,otherthana veteranstreatmentcourtprogramcreatedunde rChapter124,GovernmentCode,or formerlaw,or a mentalhealthcourtprogramcreatedunderChap ter125,GovernmentCode,or formerlaw.

6 (d)AAthepresentmenthadbeenmadebecauseof mistake,falseinformation,or othersimilarreasonindicatingabsenceof probablecauseat the timeof the dismissaltobelievethe personcommittedthe offense;or(e)AAthe indictmentor informationwasvoid;or(B)AAprosecutionof the personfor the offenseforwhichthepersonwasarrestedis no longerpossiblebecausethelimitationsperio dhas (a), ,Codeof ,is amendedto readas follows:(a)AAA personwhois entitledto expunctionof (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B)(i), (a)(1)(C),or (a)(2)or a personwhois eligibleforexpunctionof recordsand (b)may fileanex partepetitionfor expunctionin a districtcourtfor the countyin which:(1)AAthe petitionerwas arrested;or(2)AAthe offensewas allegedto (b),EducationCode,is amendedto readas follows:(b)AAThissectiondoesnotauthorize a personto possess,transport,or storea handgun,a firearm,or ammunitioninviolationof thiscode, [ ],PenalCode,or , Chapter411,GovernmentCode,isamendedby (a)NotlaterthanJanuary31 of eachyear,thedepartmentshallcollectinform ationfortheprecedingcalendaryearrelatedt o the carryingof firearmsby personsin thisstate,including:(1)AAthe numberof personswho appliedfor a licensetocarrya handgununderSubchapterH comparedto the yearlyaveragenumberof peoplewho appliedfor a licensefrom2010through2020; (2)AAanyotherrelevantinformationrelatedt o thecarryingof firearmsby personsin thisstate.

7 (b)AAThe departmentshallidentifythe entitiesthatpossessinformationrequiredby Subsection(a) and requireeachentitytoreportthe informationto the departmentin the mannerprescribedby the department.(c)AANot laterthanFebruary1 of eachyear,the departmentshallprepareand submitto the governor,the lieutenantgovernor,andeachmemberof thelegislaturea reportthatincludestheinformationdescribe dby Subsection(a).(d)AAThissectionexpiresSep tember1, poston the department s Internetwebsitea courseonfirearmsafetyand coursemustbe accessibleto thepublicfreeof (a),(c),and(d),GovernmentCode,are amendedto readas follows:(a)AAThe departmentshallrevokea licenseunderthissectionif the licenseholder:(1)AAwas not entitledto the licenseat the timeit wasissued;(2)AAmadea materialmisrepresentationor failedtodisclosea materialfactin an applicationsubmittedunderthissubchapter; (3)AAsubsequentlybecomesineligiblefora ,unlessthe solebasisfor the ineligibilityis thatthe licenseholderis chargedwiththe commissionof a or ClassB misdemeanoror equivalentoffense,or of an ,PenalCode,or equivalentoffense,or of afelonyunderan informationor indictment;(4)AA[is convictedof an ,PenalCode.]

8 [(5)]AAis determinedby the departmentto haveengagedin conductconstitutinga reasonto suspenda (a)afterthe person s licensehas beenpreviouslysuspendedtwicefor the samereason;or(5)A[(6)]AAsubmitsanapplica tionfeethatisdishonoredor reversedif the applicantfailsto submita cashier scheckor moneyordermadepayableto the"Departmentof PublicSafetyof theStateof Texas"in theamountof thedishonoredorreversedfee,plus$25,withi n30 daysof beingnotifiedby thedepartmentthatthe fee was dishonoredor reversed.(c)AAA licenseholderwhoselicenseis revokedfor a reasonlistedin Subsections(a)(1)-(4)[(a)(1)-(5)]may reapplyas a newapplicantfor the issuanceof a licenseunderthissubchapterafterthe secondanniversaryof the dateof the revocationif the causefor revocationdoesnot existon the dateof the thecauseforrevocationexistson thedateof thesecondanniversaryafterthedateof revocation,thelicenseholdermaynot applyfor a new licenseuntilthe causefor revocationno longerexistsand has not existedfor a periodof two years.

9 (d)AAA licenseholderwhoselicenseis revokedunderSubsection(a)(5)[(a)(6)]may reapplyfor an originalor renewedlicenseat any time,providedthe applicationfee and a $25 is paidby cashier s checkor moneyordermadepayableto the "TexasDepartmentof PublicSafety." ,GovernmentCode,is amendedtoreadas otherwiselimittherightof a publicor privateemployerto prohibitpersonswho are licensedunderthissubchapterfromcarryinga handgunon thepremisesof thissection,"premises"hasthemeaningassig nedby [ (f)(3)], (a)(3),GovernmentCode,isamendedto readas follows:(3)AA"Premises"hasthemeaningassi gnedby [ ], (a)and(j),GovernmentCode,are amendedto readas follows:(a)AAExceptas providedby Subsection(i),a stateagencyora politicalsubdivisionof thestatemaynottakeanyaction,includingan actionconsistingof theprovisionof noticeby acommunicationdescribedby ,PenalCode,thatstatesor impliesthata licenseholderwho is carryinga handgununderthe authorityof thissubchapteris prohibitedfromenteringor remainingon a premisesor otherplaceownedor leasedby thegovernmentalentityunlesslicenseholder sareprohibitedfromcarryinga handgunon the premisesor otherplaceby [or ],PenalCode,or otherlaw.

10 (j)AAIn thissection,"premises"has the [ ], (a)(1),Healthand SafetyCode,is amendedto readas follows:(1)AA"Licenseholder" [ (f)], (a),Healthand SafetyCode,isamendedto readas follows:(a)AAThissectionappliesto:(1)AAa n amusementpark,as definedby [ ],PenalCode;(2)AAa child-carefacility,as definedby ,HumanResourcesCode;(3)AAa daycampor youthcamp,as definedby ;(4)AAa privateor independentinstitutionof highereducation,as definedby ,EducationCode;(5)AAa restaurant,as definedby ,Business& CommerceCode;(6)AAa sportsvenue,as definedby ,LocalGovernmentCode;(7)AAa youthcenter,as definedby ;or(8)AAsubjectto Subsection(b),anyotherentitythattheexecu tivecommissionerby ruledesignatesas an entitythatwouldbenefitfromthe possessionand administrationof (e-2),HumanResourcesCode,isamendedto readas (e-2)AAThe departmentmay not prohibitthe fosterparentof achildwho residesin the fosterfamily s homefromtransportingthechildin a vehiclewherea handgunis presentif the handgunis inthepossessionandcontrolof thefosterparentandthefosterparentis not otherwiseprohibitedby law fromcarryinga handgun[licensedto carrythehandgununderSubchapterH, Chapter411,GovernmentCode].