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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to authorizing certain person to carry a handgun |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 46.15 (k), NONAPPLICABILITY, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(k) Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who carries a |
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handgun if |
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(1) the person carries the handgun while: |
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(A) evacuating from an area following the |
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declaration of a state of disaster under Section 418.014, |
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Government Code, or a local state of disaster under Section |
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418.108, Government Code, with respect to that area; or |
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(B) reentering that area following the person's |
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evacuation; |
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(2) not more than 168 hours have elapsed since the |
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state of disaster or local state of disaster was declared, or more |
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than 168 hours have elapsed since the time the declaration was made |
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and the governor has extended the period during which a person may |
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carry a handgun under this subsection; and |
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(3) the person is not prohibited by state or federal |
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law from possessingpurchasing a firearm. |
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SECTION 2. Section 46.02, Penal Code, UNLAWFUL CARRYING |
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WEAPONS, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (a-1) and |
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adding Subsection (a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) A person younger than 21 years of age commits an offense |
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if the person: |
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(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries |
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on or about his or her person a handgun; and |
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(2) is not: |
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(A) on the person's own premises or premises |
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under the person's control; or |
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(B) inside of or directly en route to a motor |
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vehicle or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the |
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person's control. |
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(a-1) A person younger than 21 years of age commits an |
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offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly |
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carries on or about his or her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or |
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watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's control |
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at any time in which: |
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(1) the handgun is in plain view, unless the person is |
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licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, |
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Government Code, and the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt |
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holster; or |
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(2) the person is: |
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(A) engaged in criminal activity, other than a |
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Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance |
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regulating traffic or boating; |
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(B) prohibited by law from possessing a firearm; |
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or |
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(C) a member of a criminal street gang, as |
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defined by Section 71.01. |
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(a-2) A person commits an offense if the person carries a |
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handgun on or about their person, and intentionally displays the |
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handgun in plain view of another person in a public place. It is an |
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exception to the application of this subsection that the handgun |
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was partially or wholly visible but was carried in a holster on or |
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about the person. |
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SECTION 3. Section 46.03, Penal Code, PLACES WEAPONS |
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PROHIBITED, is amended to read as follows: |
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(e-1) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5) |
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that the actor: |
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(1) possessed, at the screening checkpoint for the |
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secured area, a concealed handgun that the actor was licensed to |
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carry under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and |
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(2) exited the screening checkpoint for the secured |
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area immediately upon completion of the required screening |
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processes and notification that the actor possessed the handgun. |
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SECTION 4. Section 46.035, Penal Code, UNLAWFUL CARRYING OF |
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HANDGUN BY LICENSE HOLDER, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A license holderperson commits an offense if the |
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license holderperson carries a handgun on or about the license |
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holder'stheir person under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter |
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411, Government Code, and intentionally displays the handgun in |
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plain view of another person in a public place. It is an exception |
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to the application of this subsection that the handgun was |
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partially or wholly visible but was carried in a shoulder or belt |
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holster by the license holderperson. |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a license holder |
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commits an offense if the license holder carries a partially or |
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wholly visible handgun, regardless of whether the handgun is |
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holstered, on or about the license holder's person under the |
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authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and |
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intentionally displays the handgun in plain view of another person: |
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(1) on the premises of an institution of higher |
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education or private or independent institution of higher |
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education; or |
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(2) on any public or private driveway, street, |
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sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking |
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area of an institution of higher education or private or |
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independent institution of higher education. |
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(a-2) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or Section 46.03(a), a |
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license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a |
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handgun on the campus of a private or independent institution of |
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higher education in this state that has established rules, |
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regulations, or other provisions prohibiting license holders from |
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carrying handguns pursuant to Section 411.2031(e), Government |
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Code, or on the grounds or building on which an activity sponsored |
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by such an institution is being conducted, or in a passenger |
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transportation vehicle of such an institution, regardless of |
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whether the handgun is concealed, provided the institution gives |
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effective notice under Section 30.06. |
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(a-3) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or Section 46.03(a), a |
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license holder commits an offense if the license holder |
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intentionally carries a concealed handgun on a portion of a |
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premises located on the campus of an institution of higher |
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education in this state on which the carrying of a concealed handgun |
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is prohibited by rules, regulations, or other provisions |
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established under Section 411.2031(d-1), Government Code, provided |
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the institution gives effective notice under Section 30.06 with |
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respect to that portion. |
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(b) A license holderperson commits an offense if the |
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license holderperson intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly |
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carries a handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, |
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Government Code, regardless of whether the handgun is concealed or |
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carried in a shoulder or belt holster, on or about the license |
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holder'stheir person: |
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(1) on the premises of a business that has a permit or |
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license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic |
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Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its |
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income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for |
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on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic |
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Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code; |
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(2) on the premises where a high school, collegiate, |
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or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking |
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place, unless the license holderperson is a participant in the |
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event and a handgun is used in the event; |
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(3) on the premises of a correctional facility; |
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(4) on the premises of a hospital licensed under |
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Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing |
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facility licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless |
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the license holderperson has written authorization of the hospital |
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or nursing facility administration, as appropriate; |
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(5) in an amusement park; or |
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(6) on the premises of a civil commitment facility. |
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(c) A license holderperson commits an offense if the |
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license holderperson intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly |
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carries a handgun under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, |
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Government Code, regardless of whether the handgun is concealed or |
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carried in a shoulder or belt holster, in the room or rooms where a |
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meeting of a governmental entity is held and if the meeting is an |
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open meeting subject to Chapter 551, Government Code, and the |
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entity provided notice as required by that chapter. |
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(d) A license holderperson commits an offense if, while |
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intoxicated, the license holderperson carries a handgun under the |
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authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, or |
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pursuant to the exception provided in Section 46.15(k), regardless |
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of whether the handgun is concealed or carried in a shoulder or belt |
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holster. |
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(e) A license holder who is licensed as a security officer |
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under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, and employed as a security |
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officer commits an offense if, while in the course and scope of the |
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security officer's employment, the security officer violates a |
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provision of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code. |
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(f) In this section: |
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(1) "Amusement park" means a permanent indoor or |
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outdoor facility or park where amusement rides are available for |
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use by the public that is located in a county with a population of |
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more than one million, encompasses at least 75 acres in surface |
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area, is enclosed with access only through controlled entries, is |
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open for operation more than 120 days in each calendar year, and has |
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security guards on the premises at all times. The term does not |
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include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or |
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walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area. |
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(1-a) "Institution of higher education" and "private |
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or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(2) "License holder" means a person licensed to carry |
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a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code. |
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(3) "Premises" means a building or a portion of a |
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building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, |
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street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other |
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parking area. |
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(g) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor, |
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unless the offense is committed under Subsection (b)(1) or (b)(3), |
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in which event the offense is a felony of the third degree. |
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(h) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a), |
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(a-1), (a-2), or (a-3) that the actor, at the time of the commission |
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of the offense, displayed the handgun under circumstances in which |
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the actor would have been justified in the use of force or deadly |
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force under Chapter 9. |
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SECTION 5. Section 30.05, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (i-1) to read as follows: |
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(i-1) If the basis on which entry on the property or land or |
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in the building was forbidden is that entry with a firearm or other |
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weapon was forbidden it is a defense to prosecution under this |
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section that the person was personally given notice by oral |
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communication and promptly departed from the property. |
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SECTION 6. Chapter 30, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 30.08, TRESPASS BY UNLICENSED HOLDER WITH A HANDGUN, to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) carries a handgun unlicensed, on property of |
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another without effective consent; and |
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(2) received notice that entry on the property by a |
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unlicensed holder with a handgun was forbidden. |
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(b) For purposes of this section, a person receives notice |
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if the owner of the property or someone with apparent authority to |
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act for the owner provides notice to the person by oral or written |
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communication. |
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(c) In this section: |
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(1) "Entry" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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30.05(b). |
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(2) Unlicensed has the meaning of anyone not a |
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"License holder" has defined by Section 46.035(f). |
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(3) "Written communication" means: |
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(A) a card or other document on which is written |
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language identical to the following: "Pursuant to Section 30.08, |
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Penal Code (TRESPASS BY UNLICENSED HOLDER WITH A HANDGUN), may not |
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enter this property with a handgun"; or |
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(B) a sign posted on the property that: |
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(i) includes the language described by |
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Paragraph (A) in both English and Spanish; |
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(ii) appears in contrasting colors with |
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block letters at least one inch in height; and |
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(iii) is displayed in a conspicuous manner |
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clearly visible to the public. |
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(d) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor |
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punishable by a fine not to exceed $200, except that the offense is |
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a Class A misdemeanor if it is shown on the trial of the offense |
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that, after entering the property, the unlicensed holder was |
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personally given the notice by oral communication described by |
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Subsection (b) and subsequently failed to depart. |
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(e) It is an exception to the application of this section |
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that the property on which the unlicensed holder carries a handgun |
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is owned or leased by a governmental entity and is not a premises or |
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other place on which the unlicensed holder is prohibited from |
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carrying the handgun under Section 46.03 or 46.035. |
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(e-1) It is a defense to prosecution under this section |
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that: |
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(1) the unlicensed holder is: |
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(A) an owner of an apartment in a condominium |
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regime governed by Chapter 81, Property Code; |
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(B) an owner of a condominium unit governed by |
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Chapter 82, Property Code; |
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(C) a tenant or guest of an owner described by |
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Paragraph (A) or (B); or |
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(D) a guest of a tenant of an owner described by |
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Paragraph (A) or (B); and |
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(2) the unlicensed holder: |
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(A) carries or stores a handgun in the |
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condominium apartment or unit owner's apartment or unit; |
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(B) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the condominium apartment or unit owner's apartment or unit; |
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(C) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the unlicensed holder's vehicle located in a parking area |
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provided for residents or guests of the condominium property; or |
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(D) carries or stores a handgun in the unlicensed |
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holder's vehicle located in a parking area provided for residents |
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or guests of the condominium property. |
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(e-2) It is a defense to prosecution under this section |
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that: |
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(1) the unlicensed holder is a tenant of a leased |
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premises governed by Chapter 92, Property Code, or the tenant's |
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guest; and |
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(2) the unlicensed holder: |
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(A) carries or stores a handgun in the tenant's |
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rental unit; |
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(B) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the tenant's rental unit; |
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(C) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the unlicensed holder's vehicle located in a parking area |
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provided for tenants or guests by the landlord of the leased |
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premises; or |
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(D) carries or stores a handgun in the unlicensed |
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holder's vehicle located in a parking area provided for tenants or |
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guests by the landlord of the leased premises. |
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(e-3) It is a defense to prosecution under this section |
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that: |
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(1) the unlicensed holder is a tenant of a |
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manufactured home lot governed by Chapter 94, Property Code, or the |
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tenant's guest; and |
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(2) the unlicensed holder: |
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(A) carries or stores a handgun in the tenant's |
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manufactured home; |
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(B) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the tenant's manufactured home; |
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(C) carries a handgun directly en route to or |
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from the unlicensed holder's vehicle located in a parking area |
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provided for tenants or tenants' guests by the landlord of the |
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leased premises; or |
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(D) carries or stores a handgun in the unlicensed |
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holder's vehicle located in a parking area provided for tenants or |
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tenants' guests by the landlord of the leased premises. |
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(f) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that |
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the unlicensed holder is volunteer emergency services personnel, as |
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defined by Section 46.01. |
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(g) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that |
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the unlicensed holder was personally given notice by oral |
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communication described by Subsection (b) and promptly departed |
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from the property. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |