BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1020

By: Deshotel

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Education Code requires the expulsion of a student from school for the student's use, exhibition, or possession of a firearm on school property or while in attendance at a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property. This provision effectively precludes a student's participation in or preparation for school-sponsored shooting sports competition or other legitimately sanctioned shooting sports educational activities.

H.B. 1020 prohibits the expulsion of a student solely on the basis of the student's use, exhibition, or possession of a firearm at an approved target range in the course of the student's participation in a school-sponsored shooting sports competition or a shooting sports educational activity sponsored or supported the Parks and Wildlife Department or by a sanctioning organization working with the department.

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

H.B. 1020 amends the Education Code to prohibit the expulsion of a student from a school solely on the basis of the student's use, exhibition, or possession of a firearm that occurs at an approved target range facility that is not located on a school campus and occurs in the course of the student's participation in or preparation for a school-sponsored shooting sports competition or a shooting sports educational activity that is sponsored or supported by the Parks and Wildlife Department or a shooting sports sanctioned organization working with the department.

H.B. 1020 makes its provisions applicable beginning with the 2009-2010 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.