SRC-LBB, MSY, VRA S.B. 103 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 103
By: Van de Putte
Criminal Justice
7/2/2003
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 
   
Current Texas law differentiates between peace officers and concealed
weapon permit holders as regards the authority to carry a weapon in public
spaces.  This distinction, however, is sometimes unclear to employees of
establishments that serve the public.  S.B. 103 specifies that a peace
officer is authorized to carry weapons into any public space, and
specifies that commissioned peace officers of certain other states and
special investigators are considered peace officers for this purpose. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 46.15, Penal Code, by amending Subsection (a)
and adding Subsection (g), as follows: 

(a)  Includes commissioned peace officers of another state that allows
peace officers commissioned in Texas to carry weapons in the other state,
or special investigators under Article 2.122 (Special Investigators), Code
of Criminal Procedure, among those  peace officers and special
investigators exempt from Sections 46.02 (Unlawful Carrying Weapons) and
Section 46.03 (Places Weapons Prohibited). 

 (g)  Defines "recognized state."

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.