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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the definition of firearm for purposes of certain |
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criminal offenses. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 46.01(3), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(3) "Firearm" means any device designed, made, or |
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adapted to expel a projectile through a barrel by using the energy |
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generated by an explosion or burning substance or any device |
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readily convertible to that use. Firearm does not include: |
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(A) a firearm that may have, as an integral part, |
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a folding knife blade or other characteristics of weapons made |
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illegal by this chapter and that is: |
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(i) [(A)] an antique or curio firearm |
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manufactured before 1899; or |
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(ii) [(B)] a replica of an antique or curio |
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firearm manufactured before 1899, but only if the replica does not |
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use rim fire or center fire ammunition; or |
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(B) a less-lethal projectile device. |
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SECTION 2. Section 46.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Subdivision (21) to read as follows: |
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(21) "Less-lethal projectile device" means any |
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weapon, device, or munition that is designed, made, or adapted to |
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expel a projectile or multiple projectiles against a target to |
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temporarily incapacitate the target while minimizing the risk of |
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serious bodily injury or death. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |