BILL ANALYSIS
By: Ritter
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, only active members of the United States Armed Forces can have the concealed handgun license fee (or any fee required for its duplication, renewal, or modification) reduced by 50%.
CSHB 233 seeks to waive the fee for veterans who submit an application no later than 365 days removed from active duty and current members of the United States armed services.
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 233 amends Section 411.1951, Government Code, by renaming the Section "WAIVER OF FEES FOR MEMBERS OR VETERANS OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES."
CSHB 233 further amends this section to define "veteran" and provide for the waiver of any fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter, for active members of the United States armed forces or a veteran of the armed forces, who, within 365 days preceding the date of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of service in which the person served.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The Committee Substitute adds a time restriction to honorably discharged veterans who are eligible for the fee waiver. It provides that a veteran who, within 365 days preceding the date of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of service in which the person served.