81R3905 SJM-D
 
  By: Van de Putte S.B. No. 651
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to restrictions on the use of a stun gun; providing certain
  criminal penalties and defenses to prosecution.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 46.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subdivisions (17) and (18) to read as follows:
               (17)  "Stun gun" means a device that is intended,
  designed, made, or adapted to incapacitate a person by inflicting
  an electrical charge through the emission of a projectile or
  conductive stream.
               (18)  "Recognized state" means another state with which
  the attorney general of this state, with the approval of the
  governor of this state, negotiated an agreement after determining
  that the other state:
                     (A)  has firearm proficiency requirements for
  peace officers; and
                     (B)  fully recognizes the right of peace officers
  commissioned in this state to carry weapons in the other state.
         SECTION 2.  Section 46.03, Penal Code, is amended by adding
  Subsections (j) and (k) to read as follows:
         (j)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
  the actor possessed a stun gun and was, at the time of the offense:
               (1)  a license holder under Subchapter H-1, Chapter
  411, Government Code, who engaged in the conduct after successfully
  completing the training described by Section 411.223, Government
  Code; or
               (2)  a commissioned security officer registered with
  the Private Security Bureau of the Department of Public Safety who
  engaged in the conduct while traveling to or from the actor's place
  of assignment or in the actual discharge of duties as a commissioned
  security officer.
         (k)  It is an exception to the application of this section
  that the actor possessed a stun gun and was, at the time of the
  offense, a peace officer, including a commissioned peace officer of
  a recognized state and a special investigator under Article 2.122,
  Code of Criminal Procedure, who was authorized by law to carry a
  weapon.
         SECTION 3.  Section 46.05, Penal Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (h) and (i)
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if he intentionally or
  knowingly possesses, manufactures, transports, repairs, or sells:
               (1)  an explosive weapon;
               (2)  a machine gun;
               (3)  a short-barrel firearm;
               (4)  a firearm silencer;
               (5)  a switchblade knife;
               (6)  knuckles;
               (7)  armor-piercing ammunition;
               (8)  a chemical dispensing device; [or]
               (9)  a zip gun; or
               (10)  a stun gun.
         (b)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections
  (a)(1)-(9) [this section] that the actor's conduct was incidental
  to the performance of official duty by the armed forces or national
  guard, a governmental law enforcement agency, or a correctional
  facility.
         (h)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(10)
  that the actor was, at the time of the offense:
               (1)  a license holder under Subchapter H-1, Chapter
  411, Government Code, who engaged in the conduct after successfully
  completing the training described by Section 411.223, Government
  Code; or
               (2)  a commissioned security officer registered with
  the Private Security Bureau of the Department of Public Safety who
  engaged in the conduct in the actual discharge of duties as a
  commissioned security officer.
         (i)  It is an exception to the application of Subsection
  (a)(10) that the actor was, at the time of the offense, a peace
  officer, including a commissioned peace officer of a recognized
  state and a special investigator under Article 2.122, Code of
  Criminal Procedure, who was authorized by law to carry a weapon.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H-1.  LICENSE TO CARRY A STUN GUN
         Sec. 411.220.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter, "recognized
  state" and "stun gun" have the meanings assigned by Section 46.01,
  Penal Code.
         Sec. 411.221.  LICENSE TO CARRY A CONCEALED STUN GUN.  The
  department by rule shall establish a procedure for a person to
  obtain a license to carry a stun gun.
         Sec. 411.222.  PERSONS EXEMPT FROM LICENSING.  A person is
  not required to obtain a license under this chapter if the person is
  a peace officer, including a commissioned peace officer of a
  recognized state and a special investigator under Article 2.122,
  Code of Criminal Procedure, who is authorized by law to carry a
  weapon.
         Sec. 411.223.  STANDARDS AND PROCEDURAL REQUIREMENTS.  In
  establishing a procedure under Section 411.221, the department
  shall require an applicant for a license under this subchapter to
  meet standards and satisfy procedural requirements that are
  substantially similar to the standards and procedural requirements
  for obtaining a license to carry a concealed handgun described by
  the following sections of Subchapter H:
               (1)  eligibility (Section 411.172);
               (2)  application (Section 411.174);
               (3)  issuance or denial of license (Section 411.177);
               (4)  form of license (Section 411.179(a));
               (5)  notification of denial, revocation, or suspension
  of license; review (Section 411.180);
               (6)  expiration (Section 411.183);
               (7)  modification (Section 411.184);
               (8)  renewal (Section 411.185);
               (9)  revocation (Section 411.186); and
               (10)  suspension of license (Section 411.187).
         Sec. 411.224.  STUN GUN PROFICIENCY AND TRAINING. (a) The
  director by rule shall establish minimum standards for stun gun
  proficiency and shall develop and make widely available throughout
  the state a course to teach stun gun proficiency and an examination
  to measure stun gun proficiency. The examination to measure stun
  gun proficiency must require an actual demonstration by the
  applicant of the applicant's ability to safely and proficiently use
  a stun gun.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the department
  shall charge a fee for the training offered under this section.
         (c)  The director by rule shall establish minimum standards
  for the certification of stun gun instructors. An applicant for
  certification as a stun gun instructor under this subsection must
  be a peace officer employed by the department and must successfully
  complete the training offered under this section before the
  department may certify the applicant as a stun gun instructor. An
  applicant for certification as a stun gun instructor is not
  required to pay a fee for the training under this section.
         Sec. 411.225.  OTHER RULES AND PROCEDURES.  The department
  shall adopt any other rule or establish any other procedure
  necessary or appropriate to administer this subchapter.
         Sec. 411.226.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF RECORDS.  The department
  shall disclose to a criminal justice agency information contained
  in its files and records regarding whether a named individual or any
  individual named in a specified list is licensed under this
  subchapter. The department shall, on written request and payment
  of a reasonable fee to cover costs of copying, disclose to any other
  individual whether a named individual or any individual whose full
  name is listed on a specified written list is licensed under this
  subchapter. Information on an individual subject to disclosure
  under this section includes the individual's name, date of birth,
  gender, race, and zip code. Except as otherwise provided by this
  section, all other records maintained under this subchapter are
  confidential and are not subject to mandatory disclosure under the
  open records law, Chapter 552, except that the applicant or license
  holder may be furnished a copy of disclosable records on request and
  the payment of a reasonable fee. The department shall notify a
  license holder of any request that is made for information relating
  to the license holder under this section and provide the name of the
  person or agency making the request. This section does not prohibit
  the department from making public and distributing to the public at
  no cost lists of individuals who are certified as stun gun
  instructors by the department.
         Sec. 411.227.  DISPLAYING LICENSE; PENALTY.  (a)  If a
  license holder is carrying a stun gun on or about the license
  holder's person when a magistrate or a peace officer demands that
  the license holder display identification, the license holder shall
  display both the license holder's driver's license or
  identification certificate issued by the department and the license
  holder's license issued under this subchapter. A person who fails
  or refuses to display the license and identification as required by
  this subsection is subject to suspension of the person's license as
  provided by department rule adopted under this subchapter.
         (b)  A person commits an offense if the person fails or
  refuses to display the license and identification as required by
  Subsection (a) after previously having had the person's license
  suspended for a violation of that subsection. An offense under this
  subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.
         Sec. 411.228.  AUTHORITY OF PEACE OFFICER TO DISARM.  A peace
  officer who is acting in the lawful discharge of the officer's
  official duties may disarm a license holder at any time the officer
  reasonably believes it is necessary for the protection of the
  license holder, the officer, or another individual. The peace
  officer shall return the stun gun to the license holder before
  discharging the license holder from the scene if the officer
  determines that the license holder is not a threat to the officer,
  the license holder, or another individual and if the license holder
  has not violated any provision of this subchapter or committed any
  other violation that results in the arrest of the license holder.
         SECTION 5.  The public safety director of the Department of
  Public Safety shall adopt the rules required by Subchapter H-1,
  Chapter 411, Government Code, as added by this Act, not later than
  November 1, 2009.
         SECTION 6.  (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
  section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
         (b)  Sections 1, 2, and 3 of this Act take effect March 1,
  2010.