By:  Rose, Berman, Guillen, et al.                                H.B. No. 685
 
    (Senate Sponsor - Van de Putte)                                          
	(In the Senate - Received from the House March 30, 2005; 
April 5, 2005, read first time and referred to Committee on 
Criminal Justice; April 11, 2005, rereferred to Committee on 
Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; May 2, 2005, reported 
favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 2, 2005, sent 
to printer.)


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT


relating to the requirements that apply to certain armed forces 
personnel who apply to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is 
amended by adding Section 411.1881 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.1881.  EXEMPTION FROM INSTRUCTION FOR CERTAIN 
PERSONS.  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
subchapter, a person may not be required to complete the range 
instruction portion of a handgun proficiency course to obtain or 
renew a concealed handgun license issued under this subchapter if 
the person:
		(1)  is currently serving in or is honorably discharged 
from:        
			(A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or 
marine corps of the United States or an auxiliary service or reserve 
unit of one of those branches of the armed forces; or
			(B)  the state military forces, as defined by 
Section 431.001; and  
		(2)  has, within the five years preceding the date of 
the person's application for an original or renewed license, as 
applicable, completed a course of training in handgun proficiency 
or familiarization as part of the person's service with the armed 
forces or state military forces.
	(b)  The director by rule shall adopt a procedure by which a 
license holder who is exempt under Subsection (a) from the range 
instruction portion of the handgun proficiency requirement may 
submit a form demonstrating the license holder's qualification for 
an exemption under that subsection.  The form must provide 
sufficient information to allow the department to verify whether 
the license holder qualifies for the exemption.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.                           



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