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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the provision of information regarding firearm safety |
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and suicide prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.188(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) Only qualified handgun instructors may administer the |
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classroom instruction part or the range instruction part of the |
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handgun proficiency course. The classroom instruction part of the |
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course must include not less than four hours and not more than six |
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hours of instruction on: |
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(1) the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of |
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deadly force; |
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(2) handgun use and safety, including use of restraint |
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holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly |
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carried handguns; |
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(3) nonviolent dispute resolution; [and] |
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(4) proper storage practices for handguns with an |
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emphasis on storage practices that eliminate the possibility of |
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accidental injury to a child; and |
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(5) the information described by Section 411.189(a). |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.190(b), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) In addition to the qualifications described by |
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Subsection (a), a qualified handgun instructor must be qualified to |
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instruct persons in: |
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(1) the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of |
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deadly force; |
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(2) handgun use, proficiency, and safety, including |
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use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying |
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of openly carried handguns; |
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(3) nonviolent dispute resolution; [and] |
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(4) proper storage practices for handguns, including |
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storage practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental |
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injury to a child; and |
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(5) the information described by Section 411.189(a). |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.189 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.189. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION |
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INFORMATION. (a) The department shall post the following on the |
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department's Internet website: |
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(1) information regarding: |
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(A) the importance of an owner of a firearm |
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safely storing the firearm, particularly when a member of the |
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owner's family or household is at risk of suicide; |
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(B) the warning signs that a person is at risk of |
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suicide; and |
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(C) the rate of suicide in this state, including |
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statistics regarding the method of suicide used; and |
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(2) the phone number for the National Suicide |
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Prevention Lifeline. |
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(b) The department shall also include on the department's |
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Internet website information regarding the risk of suicide among |
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various age groups and veterans and the importance of safely |
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storing firearms around a person who is at risk of suicide. |
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(c) The department may provide the information described by |
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Subsection (a) to: |
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(1) a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18 |
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U.S.C. Section 923; |
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(2) an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as |
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defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or |
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(3) a promoter or operator of a gun show. |
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(d) The department may partner with suicide prevention |
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programs and use existing resources to provide the information |
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described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 531.02493 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 531.02493. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION |
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INFORMATION. (a) On the commission's Internet website the |
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commission shall post evidence-based information regarding the |
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importance of an owner of a firearm safely storing the firearm, |
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particularly when a member of the owner's family or household is at |
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risk of suicide. |
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(b) The commission shall also include the information |
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described by Subsection (a) on any portion of the commission's |
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Internet website that provides information primarily to veterans or |
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to minors and their parents. |
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(c) The commission may provide the information described by |
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Subsection (a) to: |
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(1) a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18 |
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U.S.C. Section 923; |
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(2) an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as |
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defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or |
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(3) a promoter or operator of a gun show. |
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(d) The commission may partner with suicide prevention |
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programs and use existing resources to provide the information |
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described by Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |