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          A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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          AN ACT
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        relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain  | 
      
      
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        other locations associated with institutions of higher education;  | 
      
      
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        providing a criminal penalty. | 
      
      
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               BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
      
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               SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is  | 
      
      
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        amended by adding Section 411.2031 to read as follows: | 
      
      
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               Sec. 411.2031.  CARRYING OF HANDGUNS BY LICENSE HOLDERS ON  | 
      
      
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        CERTAIN CAMPUSES.  (a)  For purposes of this section: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  "Campus" means all land and buildings owned or  | 
      
      
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        leased by an institution of higher education or private or  | 
      
      
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        independent institution of higher education. | 
      
      
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                     (2)  "Institution of higher education" and "private or  | 
      
      
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        independent institution of higher education" have the meanings  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | 
      
      
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                     (3)  "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        46.035, Penal Code. | 
      
      
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               (b)  A license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or  | 
      
      
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        about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the  | 
      
      
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        campus of an institution of higher education or private or  | 
      
      
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        independent institution of higher education in this state. | 
      
      
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               (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d) or (e), an  | 
      
      
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        institution of higher education or private or independent  | 
      
      
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        institution of higher education in this state may not adopt any  | 
      
      
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        rule, regulation, or other provision prohibiting license holders  | 
      
      
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        from carrying handguns on the campus of the institution. | 
      
      
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               (d)  An institution of higher education or private or  | 
      
      
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        independent institution of higher education in this state may  | 
      
      
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        establish rules, regulations, or other provisions concerning the  | 
      
      
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        storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities  | 
      
      
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        that are owned or leased and operated by the institution and located  | 
      
      
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        on the campus of the institution. | 
      
      
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               (e)  A private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education in this state, after consulting with students, staff, and  | 
      
      
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        faculty of the institution, may establish rules, regulations, or  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        other provisions prohibiting license holders from carrying  | 
      
      
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        handguns on the campus of the institution, any grounds or building  | 
      
      
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        on which an activity sponsored by the institution is being  | 
      
      
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        conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle owned by the  | 
      
      
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        institution. | 
      
      
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               (f)  This section does not permit a person to possess a  | 
      
      
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        concealed handgun, or go with a concealed handgun, on the premises  | 
      
      
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        of a hospital maintained or operated by an institution of higher  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        education or private or independent institution of higher education  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        if the hospital gives effective notice under Section 30.06, Penal  | 
      
      
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        Code.  In this subsection, "hospital" has the meaning assigned by  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        Section 241.003, Health and Safety Code. | 
      
      
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               (g)  This section does not permit a person to possess a  | 
      
      
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        concealed handgun, or go with a concealed handgun, on the premises  | 
      
      
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        of a preschool, elementary school, or secondary school that is  | 
      
      
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        located on the campus of an institution of higher education or  | 
      
      
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        private or independent institution of higher education if the  | 
      
      
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        institution gives effective notice under Section 30.06, Penal Code. | 
      
      
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               SECTION 2.  Section 411.208, Government Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
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        amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to  | 
      
      
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        read as follows: | 
      
      
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               (a)  A court may not hold the state, an agency or subdivision  | 
      
      
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        of the state, an officer or employee of the state, an institution of  | 
      
      
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        higher education, an officer or employee of an institution of  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        higher education, a private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education that has not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an  | 
      
      
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        officer or employee of a private or independent institution of  | 
      
      
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        higher education that has not adopted rules under Section  | 
      
      
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        411.2031(e), a peace officer, or a qualified handgun instructor  | 
      
      
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        liable for damages caused by: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  an action authorized under this subchapter or a  | 
      
      
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        failure to perform a duty imposed by this subchapter; or | 
      
      
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                     (2)  the actions of an applicant or license holder that  | 
      
      
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        occur after the applicant has received a license or been denied a  | 
      
      
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        license under this subchapter. | 
      
      
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               (b)  A cause of action in damages may not be brought against  | 
      
      
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        the state, an agency or subdivision of the state, an officer or  | 
      
      
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        employee of the state, an institution of higher education, an  | 
      
      
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        officer or employee of an institution of higher education, a  | 
      
      
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        private or independent institution of higher education that has not  | 
      
      
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        adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an officer or employee of  | 
      
      
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        a private or independent institution of higher education that has  | 
      
      
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        not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), a peace officer, or a  | 
      
      
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        qualified handgun instructor for any damage caused by the actions  | 
      
      
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        of an applicant or license holder under this subchapter. | 
      
      
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               (d)  The immunities granted under Subsections (a), (b), and  | 
      
      
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        (c) do not apply to: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  an act or a failure to act by the state, an agency  | 
      
      
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        or subdivision of the state, an officer of the state, an institution  | 
      
      
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        of higher education, an officer or employee of an institution of  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        higher education, a private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education that has not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an  | 
      
      
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        officer or employee of a private or independent institution of  | 
      
      
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        higher education that has not adopted rules under Section  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        411.2031(e), or a peace officer if the act or failure to act was  | 
      
      
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        capricious or arbitrary; or | 
      
      
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                     (2)  any officer or employee of an institution of  | 
      
      
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        higher education or private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
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        education described by Subdivision (1) who possesses a handgun on  | 
      
      
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        the campus of that institution and whose conduct with regard to the  | 
      
      
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        handgun is made the basis of a claim for personal injury or property  | 
      
      
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        damage. | 
      
      
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               (f)  For purposes of this section: | 
      
      
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                     (1)  "Campus" has the meaning assigned by Section  | 
      
      
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        411.2031. | 
      
      
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                     (2)  "Institution of higher education" and "private or  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        independent institution of higher education" have the meanings  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 3.  Section 46.03, Penal Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
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        amending Subsections (a) and (c) and adding Subsections (j) and (k)  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
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               (a)  A person commits an offense if the person intentionally,  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal  | 
      
      
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        knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a): | 
      
      
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                     (1)  on the physical premises of a school or  | 
      
      
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        educational institution, any grounds or building on which an  | 
      
      
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        activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        educational institution, whether the school or educational  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        institution is public or private, unless: | 
      
      
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			 | 
                           (A)  pursuant to written regulations or written  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        authorization of the institution; or | 
      
      
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                           (B)  the person possesses or goes with a concealed  | 
      
      
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        handgun that the person is licensed to carry under Subchapter H,  | 
      
      
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        Chapter 411, Government Code, and no other weapon to which this  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        section applies, 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, on any grounds or building on which an activity  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sponsored by the institution is being conducted, or in a passenger  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        transportation vehicle of the institution; | 
      
      
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                     (2)  on the premises of a polling place on the day of an  | 
      
      
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        election or while early voting is in progress; | 
      
      
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                     (3)  on the premises of any government court or offices  | 
      
      
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        utilized by the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or  | 
      
      
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        written authorization of the court; | 
      
      
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                     (4)  on the premises of a racetrack; | 
      
      
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                     (5)  in or into a secured area of an airport; or | 
      
      
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                     (6)  within 1,000 feet of premises the location of  | 
      
      
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        which is designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a  | 
      
      
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        place of execution under Article 43.19, Code of Criminal Procedure,  | 
      
      
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        on a day that a sentence of death is set to be imposed on the  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        designated premises and the person received notice that: | 
      
      
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			 | 
                           (A)  going within 1,000 feet of the premises with  | 
      
      
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			 | 
        a weapon listed under this subsection was prohibited; or | 
      
      
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			 | 
                           (B)  possessing a weapon listed under this  | 
      
      
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        subsection within 1,000 feet of the premises was prohibited. | 
      
      
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			 | 
               (c)  In this section: | 
      
      
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			 | 
                     (1)  "Institution of higher education" and "private or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        independent institution of higher education" have the meanings  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (2)  "Premises" has the meaning assigned by Section  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        46.035. | 
      
      
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                     (3) [(2)]  "Secured area" means an area of an airport  | 
      
      
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        terminal building to which access is controlled by the inspection  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of persons and property under federal law. | 
      
      
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			 | 
               (j)  Subsection (a)(1)(B) does not permit a person to possess  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a concealed handgun, or go with a concealed handgun, on the premises  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of a hospital maintained or operated by an institution of higher  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        education or private or independent institution of higher education  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        if the hospital gives effective notice under Section 30.06.  In this  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        subsection, "hospital" has the meaning assigned by Section 241.003,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Health and Safety Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (k)  Subsection (a)(1)(B) does not permit a person to possess  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        a concealed handgun, or go with a concealed handgun, on the premises  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        of a preschool, elementary school, or secondary school that is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        located on the premises of an institution of higher education or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        private or independent institution of higher education if the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        institution gives effective notice under Section 30.06. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 4.  Section 46.035, Penal Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsections (g), (h), and (j) and adding Subsections (a-1)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and (l) to read as follows: | 
      
      
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			 | 
               (a-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a license holder  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        commits an offense if the license holder carries a partially or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        wholly visible handgun, regardless of whether the handgun is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        holstered, on or about the license holder's person under the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, and  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        intentionally or knowingly displays the handgun in plain view of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        another person: | 
      
      
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			 | 
                     (1)  on the premises of an institution of higher  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        education or private or independent institution of higher  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        education; or | 
      
      
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			 | 
                     (2)  on any public or private driveway, street,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        area of an institution of higher education or private or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        independent institution of higher education. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  An offense under Subsection (a), (a-1), (b), (c), (d),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or (e) is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the offense is committed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Subsection (b)(1) or (b)(3), in which event the offense is a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        felony of the third degree. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a-1) that the actor, at the time of the commission of the offense,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        displayed the handgun under circumstances in which the actor would  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        have been justified in the use of force or deadly force under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 9. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (j)  Subsections (a), (a-1), and (b)(1) do not apply to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        historical reenactment performed in compliance with the rules of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (l)  Subsection (b)(2) does not apply on the premises where a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        collegiate sporting event is taking place if the actor was not given  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective notice under Section 30.06. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 5.  Section 46.035(f), Penal Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        adding Subdivision (1-a) to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
                     (1-a)  "Institution of higher education" and "private  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 6.  Section 46.035, Penal Code, is amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        amending Subsections (g), (h), and (j) and adding Subsection (a-2)  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to read as follows: | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (a-2)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or Section 46.03(a), a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        handgun on the campus of a private or independent institution of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        higher education in this state that has established rules,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        regulations, or other provisions prohibiting license holders from  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        carrying handguns pursuant to Section 411.2031(e), Government  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Code, or on the grounds or building on which an activity sponsored  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        by such an institution is being conducted, or in a passenger  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        transportation vehicle of such an institution, regardless of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        whether the handgun is concealed, provided the institution gives  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective notice under Section 30.06. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (g)  An offense under Subsection (a), (a-2), (b), (c), (d),  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        or (e) is a Class A misdemeanor, unless the offense is committed  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        under Subsection (b)(1) or (b)(3), in which event the offense is a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        felony of the third degree. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (h)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a) or  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        (a-2) that the actor, at the time of the commission of the offense,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        displayed the handgun under circumstances in which the actor would  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        have been justified in the use of force or deadly force under  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        Chapter 9. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               (j)  Subsections (a), (a-2), and (b)(1) do not apply to a  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        historical reenactment performed in compliance with the rules of  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 7.  Section 411.208, Government Code, as amended by  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        the effective date of this Act.  A cause of action that accrues  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effect for that purpose. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 8.  The change in law made by this Act applies only  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.   | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred  | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
        before that date. | 
      
      
        | 
           
			 | 
               SECTION 9.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |