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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures to limit the carrying of handguns by persons |
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other than peace officers on certain premises used for law |
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enforcement. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.207, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.207. AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM. (a) A |
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peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's |
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official duties may disarm a license holder at any time the officer |
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reasonably believes it is necessary for the protection of the |
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license holder, officer, or another individual. The peace officer |
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shall return the handgun to the license holder before discharging |
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the license holder from the scene if the officer determines that the |
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license holder is not a threat to the officer, license holder, or |
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another individual and if the license holder has not violated any |
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provision of this subchapter or committed any other violation that |
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results in the arrest of the license holder. |
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(b) A peace officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of |
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the officer's official duties may temporarily disarm a license |
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holder when a license holder enters a nonpublic, secure portion of a |
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law enforcement facility. The peace officer shall return the |
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handgun to the license holder immediately after the license holder |
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leaves the nonpublic, secure portion of the law enforcement |
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facility. |
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(c) A law enforcement facility shall prominently display at |
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each nonpublic, secure entrance a sign that gives notice in both |
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English and Spanish that, under this section, a peace officer may |
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temporarily disarm a license holder when the license holder enters |
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a nonpublic, secure portion of a law enforcement facility. The sign |
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must appear in contrasting colors with block letters at least one |
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inch in height. The sign shall be displayed in a conspicuous manner |
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clearly visible at each nonpublic, secure entrance. |
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(d) Subsections (b) and (c) apply only to premises used for |
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the official business of peace officers described by Articles |
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2.12(1) and (3), Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |