By Jones of Dallas                                     H.B. No. 794
       74R1894 DAK-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the suspension or denial of a driver's license or
    1-3  permit to certain children who use or possess a firearm.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 54, Family Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Section 54.0421 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 54.0421.  LICENSE SUSPENSION OR DENIAL FOR USE OR
    1-8  POSSESSION OF FIREARM.  (a)  In this section, "firearm" has the
    1-9  meaning assigned by Section 46.01, Penal Code.
   1-10        (b)  A juvenile court, in a disposition hearing under Section
   1-11  54.04, shall order the Department of Public Safety to suspend a
   1-12  child's driver's license or permit or, if the child does not have a
   1-13  license or permit, to deny the issuance of a license or permit to
   1-14  the child if the court finds that the child:
   1-15              (1)  has engaged in conduct that violates a penal law
   1-16  prohibiting the possession or use of a firearm; or
   1-17              (2)  used or exhibited a firearm while engaging in
   1-18  conduct in need of supervision or delinquent conduct.
   1-19        (c)  The order shall specify a period of suspension or denial
   1-20  that is until the child reaches the age of 18 or for two years,
   1-21  whichever is longer.
   1-22        SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995, and
   1-23  applies only to conduct that occurs on or after that date.  Conduct
   1-24  violating a penal law of this state, delinquent conduct, or conduct
    2-1  indicating a need for supervision occurs on or after the effective
    2-2  date of this Act if every element of the conduct occurs on or after
    2-3  that date.
    2-4        (b)  Conduct that occurs before the effective date of this
    2-5  Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the conduct
    2-6  occurred, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
    2-7        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-8  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-9  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   2-10  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-11  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.