Previous law required an honorably retired peace officer to obtain the authority to carry certain weapons from the agency in which the officer served and counted only the years served with that particular agency as years of service. Senate Bill 578 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the head of a state or local law enforcement agency to give any honorably retired peace officer an opportunity to demonstrate weapons proficiency under certain specified circumstances. The bill reduces from 20 to 15 years the number of years of service by a retired peace officer required for such an opportunity and allows the years of service to be counted cumulatively if service includes service in more than one law enforcement agency. Senate Bill 578 sets out provisions relating to proof of retirement, annual evaluation of weapons proficiency, and issuance of a certificate of proficiency and an identification card. The bill amends the Penal Code to conform to federal law that allows certain honorably retired peace officers to carry weapons in any state.