82R2070 NAJ-F
 
  By: Flynn H.B. No. 77
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the carrying of certain weapons in watercraft.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 46.02, Penal Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-3) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person intentionally,
  knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or her person a
  handgun, illegal knife, or club if the person is not:
               (1)  on the person's own premises or premises under the
  person's control; or
               (2)  inside of or directly en route to a motor vehicle
  or watercraft that is owned by the person or under the person's
  control.
         (a-1)  A person commits an offense if the person
  intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or
  her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned
  by the person or under the person's control at any time in which:
               (1)  the handgun is in plain view; or
               (2)  the person is:
                     (A)  engaged in criminal activity, other than a
  Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance
  regulating traffic or boating;
                     (B)  prohibited by law from possessing a firearm;
  or
                     (C)  a member of a criminal street gang, as
  defined by Section 71.01.
         (a-3)  For purposes of this section, "watercraft" means any
  boat, motorboat, vessel, or personal watercraft, other than a
  seaplane on water, used or capable of being used for transportation
  on water.
         SECTION 2.  Section 46.15(b), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (b)  Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:
               (1)  is in the actual discharge of official duties as a
  member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by
  Section 431.001, Government Code, or as a guard employed by a penal
  institution;
               (2)  is traveling;
               (3)  is engaging in lawful hunting, fishing, or other
  sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is
  conducted, or is en route between the premises and the actor's
  residence, [or] motor vehicle, or watercraft, if the weapon is a
  type commonly used in the activity;
               (4)  holds a security officer commission issued by the
  Texas Private Security Board, if the person is engaged in the
  performance of the person's duties as an officer commissioned under
  Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the
  person's place of assignment and is  wearing the officer's uniform
  and carrying the officer's weapon in plain view;
               (5)  acts as a personal protection officer and carries
  the person's security officer commission and personal protection
  officer authorization, if the person:
                     (A)  is engaged in the performance of the person's
  duties as a personal protection officer under Chapter 1702,
  Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the person's place of
  assignment; and
                     (B)  is either:
                           (i)  wearing the uniform of a security
  officer, including any uniform or apparel described by Section
  1702.323(d), Occupations Code, and carrying the officer's weapon in
  plain view; or
                           (ii)  not wearing the uniform of a security
  officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner;
               (6)  is carrying a concealed handgun and a valid
  license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, to
  carry a concealed handgun of the same category as the handgun the
  person is carrying;
               (7)  holds an alcoholic beverage permit or license or
  is an employee of a holder of an alcoholic beverage permit or
  license if the person is supervising the operation of the permitted
  or licensed premises; or
               (8)  is a student in a law enforcement class engaging in
  an activity required as part of the class, if the weapon is a type
  commonly used in the activity and the person is:
                     (A)  on the immediate premises where the activity
  is conducted; or
                     (B)  en route between those premises and the
  person's residence and is carrying the weapon unloaded.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
  this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
  this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.