By:  Hupp, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Estes)                        H.B. No. 322
	(In the Senate - Received from the House March 29, 2005; 
March 30, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Criminal Justice; April 11, 2005, rereferred to Committee on
Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; May 10, 2005, reported 
adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following 
vote:  Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 10, 2005, sent to printer.)


COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 322                                    By:  Estes


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to concealed handgun licenses for members and veterans of 
the United States armed forces.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 411.172, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows:
	(g)  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:
		(1)  is a member or veteran of the United States armed 
forces, including a member or veteran of the reserves or national 
guard;
		(2)  was discharged under honorable conditions, if 
discharged from the United States armed forces, reserves, or 
national guard; and
		(3)  meets the other eligibility requirements of 
Subsection (a) except for the minimum age required by federal law to 
purchase a handgun.
	(h)  The issuance of a license to carry a concealed handgun 
to a person eligible under Subsection (g) does not affect the 
person's ability to purchase a handgun or ammunition under federal 
law.
	SECTION 2.  Section 411.174(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  An applicant for a license to carry a concealed handgun 
must submit to the director's designee described by Section 
411.176:
		(1)  a completed application on a form provided by the 
department that requires only the information listed in Subsection 
(b);
		(2)  two recent color passport photographs of the 
applicant, except that an applicant who is younger than 21 years of 
age must submit two recent color passport photographs in profile of 
the applicant;
		(3)  a certified copy of the applicant's birth 
certificate or certified proof of age;
		(4)  proof of residency in this state;                                        
		(5)  two complete sets of legible and classifiable 
fingerprints of the applicant taken by a person appropriately 
trained in recording fingerprints who is employed by a law 
enforcement agency or by a private entity designated by a law 
enforcement agency as an entity qualified to take fingerprints of 
an applicant for a license under this subchapter;
		(6)  a nonrefundable application and license fee of 
$140 paid to the department;
		(7)  a handgun proficiency certificate described by 
Section 411.189;        
		(8)  an affidavit signed by the applicant stating that 
the applicant:       
			(A)  has read and understands each provision of 
this subchapter that creates an offense under the laws of this state 
and each provision of the laws of this state related to use of 
deadly force; and
			(B)  fulfills all the eligibility requirements 
listed under Section 411.172; and
		(9)  a form executed by the applicant that authorizes 
the director to make an inquiry into any noncriminal history 
records that are necessary to determine the applicant's eligibility 
for a license under Section 411.172(a).
	SECTION 3.  Section 411.184(a), Government Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	(a)  To modify a license to allow a license holder to carry a 
handgun of a different category than the license indicates, the 
license holder must:
		(1)  complete a proficiency examination as provided by 
Section 411.188(e);  
		(2)  obtain a handgun proficiency certificate under 
Section 411.189 not more than six months before the date of 
application for a modified license; and
		(3)  submit to the department:                                                
			(A)  an application for a modified license on a 
form provided by the department;
			(B)  a copy of the handgun proficiency 
certificate;                        
			(C)  payment of a modified license fee of $25; and                           
			(D)  two recent color passport photographs of the 
license holder, except that an applicant who is younger than 21 
years of age must submit two recent color passport photographs in 
profile of the applicant.
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 411.1951 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.1951.  REDUCTION OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OF UNITED 
STATES ARMED FORCES.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
subchapter, the department shall 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 of the United States armed forces, including a 
member of the reserves, national guard, or state guard.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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