BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2523

By: Anchia

Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a retired peace officer is not allowed to legally purchase and keep the firearm used throughout the officer's tenure as a piece of memorabilia which can have great sentimental value to the officer in connection with the officer's public service.

C.S.H.B. 2523 authorizes a law enforcement officer to purchase such a firearm from the county if the individual was a peace officer commissioned by the county and is honorably retired.

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

C.S.H.B. 2523 amends the Local Government Code to authorize an individual to purchase a firearm from a county if the individual was a peace officer commissioned by the county who is honorably retired, if the firearm had been previously issued to the individual by the county, and if the firearm is not a prohibited weapon under state law. The bill authorizes such an individual to purchase only one firearm from a county and requires the county commissioners court to establish the amount, which may not exceed fair market value, for which such a firearm may be purchased.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2523 differs from the original by requiring the county commissioners court to establish the amount for which a firearm may be purchased, rather than requiring the county to make this establishment, as in the original.