BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1379

By: Anchia

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, an honorably retired peace officer is not permitted to purchase and keep as memorabilia the firearm issued to and used by the officer during the officer's tenure. The firearm used by an officer during the officer's term of public service may have great sentimental value to the officer in connection with the officer's service.

H.B. 1379 authorizes an honorably retired peace officer to purchase one such firearm from the county that commissioned and initially issued the firearm to the officer.

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. 1379 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, the firearm had been previously issued to the individual by the county, and the firearm is not a prohibited weapon. The bill restricts the individual to the purchase of only one firearm from a county.  The bill requires the county commissioners court to establish the amount for which the firearm may be purchased and prohibits the amount from exceeding fair market value.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.