C.S.H.B. 284 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 284 By: Ellis Criminal Jurisprudence Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B. 284 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 committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 284 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 a living quarters, regardless of whether that use is temporary or permanent. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 284 expands the definition of recreational vehicle to include a vehicle that contains temporary living quarters and is designed to be towed by a motor vehicle. The term also includes travel trailers, camping trailers, truck campers, motor homes, and horse trailers with living quarters.