Amend HB 2909 as follows:
      (1)  In SECTION 24, in amended Section 46.15, Penal Code,
(House engrossment, page 10, lines 44-47), strike Subsection (a)
and substitute the following:
      "(a) Sections 46.02 and 46.03 do not apply to:
            (1) peace officers and neither section prohibits a
peace officer from carrying a weapon in this state, regardless of
whether the officer is engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon;
            (2)  parole officers and neither section prohibits an
officer from carrying a weapon in this state if the officer is:
                  (A)  engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
                  (B)  in compliance with policies and procedures
adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the
possession of a weapon by an officer while on duty; or
            (3)  community supervision and corrections department
officers appointed or employed under Section 76.004, Government
Code, and neither section prohibits an officer from carrying a
weapon in this state if the officer is:
                  (A)  engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
                  (B)  authorized to carry a weapon under Section
76.0051, Government Code.".
      (2)  Add appropriately numbered SECTIONS to the bill to read
as follows and renumber existing SECTIONS accordingly:
      SECTION __.  Chapter 76, Government Code, is amended by
adding Section 76.0051 to read as follows:
      Sec. 76.0051.  AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY WEAPON.  An officer is
authorized to carry a weapon while engaged in the actual discharge
of the officer's duties only if:
            (1)  the officer possesses a certificate of firearm
proficiency issued by the Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education under Section 415.038; and
            (2)  the director of the department and the judges
participating in the management of the department agree to the
authorization.
      SECTION ___.  Subchapter B, Chapter 415, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 415.038 to read as follows:
      Sec. 415.038.  FIREARMS PROFICIENCY; SUPERVISION OFFICERS.
(a)   The commission and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice
shall adopt a memorandum of understanding that establishes their
respective responsibilities in developing a basic training program
in the use of firearms by community supervision and corrections
department officers and parole officers.  The memorandum of
understanding must establish a program that provides instruction
in:
            (1)  legal limitations on the use of firearms and on
the powers and authority of officers;
            (2)  range firing and procedure, and firearms safety
and maintenance; and
            (3)  other topics determined by the commission and the
division to be necessary for the responsible use of firearms by
officers.
      (b)  The commission and the department by rule shall adopt
the memorandum of understanding establishing the basic training
program.
      (c)  The commission shall administer the training program and
shall issue a certificate of firearms proficiency to each community
supervision and corrections department officer or parole officer
the commission determines has successfully completed the program
described by Subsection (a).
      (d)  The commission may establish reasonable and necessary
fees for the administration of this section.
      SECTION ___.  The Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education and the Texas Department of Criminal
Justice shall adopt the memorandum of understanding required by
Section 415.038, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later
than January 1, 1998.