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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to gun violence restraining orders and gun seizure |
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warrants; creating a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 1, Code of Criminal Procedure, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 7B to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 7B. GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDERS |
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AND GUN SEIZURE WARRANTS |
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Art. 7B.01. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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46.01, Penal Code. |
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(2) "Gun seizure warrant" means a written order issued |
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by a judge and directed to a peace officer commanding the officer to |
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seize any firearms that are purchased, owned, possessed, or |
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controlled by a person who is subject to a gun violence restraining |
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order and to bring the firearms before the judge. |
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(3) "Gun violence restraining order" means a court |
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order prohibiting a person from purchasing, owning, possessing, or |
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controlling a firearm. |
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Art. 7B.02. ISSUANCE OF GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER. |
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(a) Any person may submit to a court an application requesting the |
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issuance of a gun violence restraining order. A judge shall issue a |
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gun violence restraining order if the judge determines that the |
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order is necessary to prevent a significant risk of personal injury |
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to any person, including the person who is the subject of the order. |
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(b) In determining whether to issue a gun violence |
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restraining order to prohibit the purchase, ownership, possession, |
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or control of a firearm by a person, the judge: |
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(1) may examine, under oath, any witnesses the judge |
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considers necessary; and |
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(2) shall consider: |
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(A) recent threats or acts of violence by the |
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person directed toward any person; |
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(B) prior violations of any type of restraining |
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order by the person; |
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(C) prior history of use, attempted use, or |
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threatened use of violence by the person against any person; |
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(D) prior criminal history of the person; |
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(E) evidence of recent or ongoing abuse of |
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controlled substances or alcohol by the person; or |
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(F) evidence of recent acquisition of a firearm |
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or other deadly weapon. |
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(c) A judge may not issue a gun violence restraining order |
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for a period that exceeds one year. |
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(d) A gun violence restraining order must include: |
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(1) the date and time the order expires; and |
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(2) a statement that: |
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(A) the person may not purchase, own, possess, |
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control, or attempt to purchase, own, possess, or control a firearm |
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while the order is in effect; and |
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(B) the person is entitled to submit one written |
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request for a hearing at any time during the effective period of the |
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order to determine whether the order will be terminated before its |
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expiration date. |
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Art. 7B.03. ISSUANCE OF GUN SEIZURE WARRANT. (a) If there |
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is probable cause to believe that a person who is the subject of a |
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gun violence restraining order has violated the terms of the order, |
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the judge shall issue a gun seizure warrant directing a peace |
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officer to seize and retain any firearm specified in the warrant. |
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(b) A peace officer may seize a firearm specified in a gun |
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seizure warrant from any place or from any person in possession or |
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control of the firearm. A peace officer who seizes a firearm shall |
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give a receipt for the firearm to the person from whom the firearm |
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was taken. In the absence of a person, the officer shall leave the |
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receipt in the place where the firearm was located. |
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(c) A peace officer may not seize a firearm that is located |
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on property under the control of a person named in the gun seizure |
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warrant if: |
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(1) the property is occupied by multiple parties; and |
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(2) the firearm is lawfully owned by a person other |
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than the person named in the warrant, and the person named in the |
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warrant does not have access to or control of the firearm. |
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(d) A peace officer may not search, without consent, a gun |
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safe that is located on property under the control of a person named |
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in the gun seizure warrant if: |
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(1) the property is occupied by multiple parties; and |
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(2) the gun safe is owned by a person other than the |
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person named in the warrant. |
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Art. 7B.04. HEARING. (a) Not later than the 14th day after |
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the date of issuance of a gun violence restraining order or gun |
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seizure warrant, or a seizure made pursuant to a gun seizure |
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warrant, as applicable, the court shall hold a hearing on the |
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issuance of the order or warrant or the seizure made pursuant to the |
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warrant. |
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(b) At the hearing the state must prove by clear and |
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convincing evidence that the purchase, ownership, possession, or |
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control of a firearm by the person named in the gun violence |
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restraining order or gun seizure warrant poses a significant risk |
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of personal injury to any person. |
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(c) If the court finds that the state has not met the burden |
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of proof, the court shall, as applicable: |
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(1) rescind the gun violence restraining order or gun |
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seizure warrant; or |
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(2) issue an order for the return of any firearm seized |
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pursuant to the gun seizure warrant. |
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(d) A person who is the subject of a gun violence |
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restraining order may submit one written request at any time during |
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the effective period of the order to determine whether the order |
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will be terminated before its expiration date. |
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Art. 7B.05. REQUEST FOR RENEWAL OF ORDER. A judge may renew |
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a gun violence restraining order for one or more periods, the total |
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of which may not exceed one year. Before renewing the order the |
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court must hold a hearing and provide notice of the hearing to the |
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person named in the order. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 46.025 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.025. VIOLATION OF GUN VIOLENCE RESTRAINING ORDER. |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person purchases, owns, |
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possesses, or controls a firearm in violation of a gun violence |
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restraining order issued under Article 7B.02, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |