SRC-LBB, MSY, VRA S.B. 103 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 103 78R1631 PEP-FBy: Van de Putte Criminal Justice 2/20/2003 As Filed 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. As proposed, S.B. 103 specifies that a peace officer is authorized to carry weapons into any public space, and specifies that commissioned peace officers of another state 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(a), Penal Code, to include commissioned peace officers of another 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). SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.