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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an application made by certain retired state and |
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federal officers to obtain a license to carry a handgun; waiving a |
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fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.199, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b), (d), (f), and (g) and adding Subsections |
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(e) and (e-1) to read as follows: |
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(b) The person shall submit two complete sets of legible and |
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classifiable fingerprints and a sworn statement from the head of |
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the law enforcement agency employing the applicant. A head of a law |
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enforcement agency may not refuse to issue a statement under this |
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subsection. If the applicant alleges that the statement is untrue, |
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the department shall investigate the validity of the statement. |
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The statement must include: |
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(1) the name and rank of the applicant; |
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(2) the status of the applicant before retirement; |
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(3) whether or not the applicant was accused of |
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misconduct at the time of the retirement; |
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(4) the physical and mental condition of the |
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applicant; |
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(5) the type of weapons the applicant had demonstrated |
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proficiency with during the last year of employment; |
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(6) whether the applicant would be eligible for |
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reemployment with the agency, and if not, the reasons the applicant |
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is not eligible; [and] |
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(7) a recommendation from the agency head regarding |
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the issuance of a license under this subchapter; and |
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(8) whether the applicant holds a current certificate |
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of proficiency under Section 1701.357, Occupations Code. |
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(d) The department shall waive any fee required [An
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applicant under this section must pay a fee of $25] for a license |
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issued under this subchapter to an applicant under this section. |
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(e) An applicant under this section who complies with |
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Subsections (b) and (c) or Subsection (g), as applicable, and with |
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the other requirements of this subchapter is not required to |
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complete the classroom instruction portion of the handgun |
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proficiency course described by Section 411.188 to obtain a license |
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under this subchapter. |
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(e-1) An applicant described by Subsection (e) who holds a |
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current certificate of proficiency under Section 1701.357, |
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Occupations Code, is not required to complete the range instruction |
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portion of the handgun proficiency course described by Section |
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411.188 to obtain a license under this subchapter. |
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(f) A license issued under this subchapter to an applicant |
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under this section expires as provided by Section 411.183. |
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(g) A retired officer of the United States who was eligible |
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to carry a firearm in the discharge of the officer's official duties |
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is eligible to apply under this section for a license issued under |
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this subchapter [section]. An applicant described by this |
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subsection may submit the application at any time after retirement. |
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The applicant shall submit with the application proper proof of |
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retired status by presenting the following documents prepared by |
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the agency from which the applicant retired: |
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(1) retirement credentials; and |
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(2) a letter from the agency head stating the |
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applicant retired in good standing. |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.199, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to an application for a license to carry a |
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handgun submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application submitted before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the application was |
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submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |