BILL ANALYSIS
By: Isett
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Texas has one of the highest conceal carry licensing fees in the country. When the fees were enacted, they were intended to be revenue neutral. CSHB 1038 reduces license fees from $140 to $100 for initial fees and renewals from $70 to $50.
In 1997, the State Legislature also amended the Government Code to reduce the fees for a concealed carry license for senior citizens and indigents. Under §411.194, which applies to indigents, the fee reduction applies to the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license. However, §411.195, which applies to seniors, only reduces the fee for the issuance of an original, duplicate, or modified license. The fee reduction for seniors to renew a concealed license was inadvertently overlooked and as such, seniors pay a reduced fee to obtain an original concealed to carry license but pay the full fee to renew the license. C.S.H.B 1038 resolves this variance by reducing the fees for seniors to renew a concealed carry license.
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
CSHB 1038 amends §411.174 of the Government Code by reducing the fee for a license to carry a concealed handgun from $140 to $100.
CSHB 1038 also amends §411.195 of the Government Code by changing the senior fee reduction from 50 percent to 30 percent for a license to carry a concealed handgun and adds renewals to the list of reduced fees.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
CSHB 1038 amends §411.174 of the Government Code by changing the fee for a license to carry a concealed handgun from $140 to $100.
While HB 1038 amends §411.195 of the Government Code by adding language that reduces the renewal of a concealed handgun license by 50 percent for persons 60 years of age or older, C.S.H.B amends §411.195 by reducing the renewal of a concealed handgun license by 30 percent for persons 60 years of age or older.