BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 322
By: Hupp (Estes)
Veterans Affairs and Military Installations
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
All citizens, including veterans, must be at least 21 years old to obtain a concealed handgun license. All citizens, except senior citizens, currently have to pay the full fee for a concealed handgun license.
Our military personnel currently receives extensive training in handling weapons. An eighteen-year-old soldier who has been in combat cannot legally carry a concealed handgun in Texas. Being outside of the United States for extended periods of time leads to the expiration of licenses for those who are eligible to carry a concealed handgun. As soldiers are out of the country, they are not able to enjoy their right to carry a concealed handgun, like other citizens of the United States, but are still paying the same fees to obtain their license.
H.B. 322 lowers the age requirement for honorably discharged veterans and active duty members of the military, for obtaining a concealed handgun license, from 21 years of age to 18. H.B. 322 also reduces the original license fee and any renewal fees for active duty and honorably discharged members of the armed forces by 50 percent.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 411.172, Government Code, by adding Subsection (g) to provide that, notwithstanding Subsection (a)(2), a person who is at least 18 years of age, but not yet 21 years of age, is eligible for a license to carry a concealed handgun if the person is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national guard, was discharged under honorable conditions, if discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or national guard, and meets the other eligibility requirements of Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Section 411.1951, as follows:
Sec. 411.1951. REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES. Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (department), notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, to reduce by 50 percent any fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter if the applicant for the license is a member or veteran of the United States armed forces, including a member of veteran of the reserves, national guard, or state guard, who, if discharged, was discharged under honorable conditions from the United States armed forces, reserves, national guard, or state guard.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2005.