By Gallego                                              H.B. No. 84
         77R9 KEL-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the offense of the unlawful possession of metal or body
 1-3     armor by a felon.
 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 46.041 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 46.041.  UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF METAL OR BODY ARMOR BY
 1-8     FELON.  (a)  In this section, "metal or body armor" means any body
 1-9     covering manifestly designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of
1-10     protecting a person against gunfire.
1-11           (b)  A person who has been convicted of a felony commits an
1-12     offense if after the conviction the person possesses metal or body
1-13     armor.
1-14           (c)  An offense under this section is a felony of the third
1-15     degree.
1-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-17           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.