HBA-CMT, EDN H.B. 968 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 968 By: Ellis, Dan Public Safety 3/6/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the offense of unlawfully carrying a weapon does not apply if a person possesses a handgun, illegal knife or club on the person's own premises. However, there is confusion as to whether it is legal to carry firearms or knives in a recreational vehicle, which can be considered temporary living quarters, regardless of whether the use is temporary or permanent. House Bill 968 makes it lawful for a person to carry a handgun, illegal knife, or club in that person's recreational vehicle. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 968 amends the Penal Code to provide that an offense of unlawfully carrying a weapon does not apply if the person carrying the handgun, illegal knife, or club is on the person's own premises, including a recreational vehicle that is being used by the person as living quarters, regardless of whether that use is temporary or permanent. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.