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


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 103
78R8715 PEP-DBy: Van de Putte
Criminal Justice
3/12/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


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.  C.S.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(a), Penal Code, to include 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). 

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

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Amends As Filed S.B. 103, proposed Section 46.15(a), Penal
Code, by inserting additional text "that allows peace officers
commissioned in Texas to carry weapons in the other state" after the
phrase "peace officers of another state." 

SECTION 2.  No change.