LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 80TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 21, 2007

TO:	Honorable Aaron Pena, Chair, House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence
FROM:	John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	HB2774 by Geren (Relating to areas of an airport where weapons are prohibited; providing a penalty.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

This bill would amend the Penal Code to include areas deemed restricted at airports among the areas where weapons are prohibited.  The bill defines a restricted area as an area of an airport where aircraft movement and support activities occur, and enclosed airport land adjacent to such area, to which ingress is permitted only by specific authorization of the airport operator.  The bill would also remove the defenses to prosecution for a member of the armed forces, national guard, security officer, or a guard employed by a penal institution who carries a weapon in or into a secured or restricted area of an airport while traveling to or from their place of assignment or in discharge of duty.  The bill would also reduce unlawful carrying of a weapon in a prohibited place from a felony of the third degree to a Class A Misdemeanor.

 

The bill would take effect September 1, 2007.

Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.

Source Agencies:

696 Department of Criminal Justice

LBB Staff:

JOB, ES, GG, LM