By Longoria                                           H.B. No. 2513
       74R6694 NSC-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to creating the offense of unlawful possession of certain
    1-3  firearms by a minor.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding
    1-6  Section 46.021 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 46.021.  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF CERTAIN FIREARMS BY
    1-8  MINOR.  (a)  In this section, "minor" means an individual who:
    1-9              (1)  is younger than 17 years of age;
   1-10              (2)  is not married; and
   1-11              (3)  has not had the disabilities of minority removed.
   1-12        (b)  A minor commits an offense if the minor possesses a
   1-13  firearm other than a handgun.
   1-14        (c)  It is an affirmative defense to prosecution under this
   1-15  section that the actor was, at the time of the commission of the
   1-16  offense:
   1-17              (1)  engaging in lawful hunting or other sporting
   1-18  activity on the immediate premises where the activity is conducted,
   1-19  or was directly en route between the premises and the actor's
   1-20  residence, if a firearm is commonly used in the activity; or
   1-21              (2)  accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
   1-22        (d)  An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.
   1-23        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-1  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-2  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-3  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-4  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.