By: Isaac H.B. No. 1595
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulation and enforcement of laws affecting sport
  shooting ranges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 128, Civil Practice and Remedies Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 128.  LIMITATION ON SUITS AGAINST FIREARMS OR
  AMMUNITION MANUFACTURER, TRADE ASSOCIATION, [OR]
  SELLER, OR SPORT SHOOTING RANGE
         Sec. 128.001.  LIMITATION ON RIGHT TO BRING SUIT OR RECOVER
  DAMAGES.  (a)  In this section, "governmental unit" means:
               (1)  a political subdivision of the state, including a
  municipality or county; and
               (2)  any other agency of government whose authority is
  derived from the laws or constitution of this state.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsections (c) and (f), a
  governmental unit may not bring suit against a firearms or
  ammunition manufacturer, trade association, or seller for recovery
  of damages resulting from, or injunctive relief or abatement of a
  nuisance relating to, the lawful design, manufacture, marketing, or
  sale of firearms or ammunition to the public, or against a sport
  shooting range, as defined in Section 250.001, Local Government
  Code, or the owners or operators of a sport shooting range, or the
  owners of real property on which a sport shooting range is operated,
  for the lawful discharge of firearms on the sport shooting range.
         (c)  A governmental unit on behalf of the state or any other
  governmental unit may bring a suit described by Subsection (b) if
  the suit is approved in advance by the legislature in a concurrent
  resolution or by enactment of a law.  This subsection does not
  create a cause of action.
         (d)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit a governmental
  unit from bringing an action against a firearms manufacturer, trade
  association, or seller for recovery of damages for:
               (1)  breach of contract or warranty as to firearms or
  ammunition purchased by a governmental unit;
               (2)  damage or harm to property owned or leased by the
  governmental unit caused by a defective firearm or ammunition;
               (3)  personal injury or death, if such action arises
  from a governmental unit's claim for subrogation;
               (4)  injunctive relief to enforce a valid ordinance,
  statute, or regulation; or
               (5)  contribution under Chapter 33, Civil Practice and
  Remedies Code.
         (e)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the attorney
  general from bringing a suit described by Subsection (b) on behalf
  of the state or any other governmental unit.  This subsection does
  not create a cause of action.
         (f)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality
  from bringing an action against a sport shooting range, or the
  owners or operators of a sport shooting range, or the owners of real
  property on which a sport shooting range is operating, for
  injunctive relief to enforce a valid ordinance, statute or
  regulation, or to require a sport shooting range to comply with
  generally accepted standards followed in the sport shooting range
  industry in Texas at the time of the sport shooting range's
  construction, if the sport shooting range:
               (1)  began operation after September 1, 2011; and
               (2)  operates exclusively within the municipality's
  geographical limits, exclusive of its extraterritorial
  jurisdiction.
         Sec. 128.002.  LIMITATION ON PRIVATE SUITS AGAINST OR
  RECOVERY OF DAMAGES FROM A SPORT SHOOTING RANGE.  (a)  In this
  section,
               (1)  "private suit" means:
                     (A)  a civil suit brought by a natural person; or
                     (B)  a civil suit brought by an entity other than a
  natural person or governmental entity;
               (2)  "sport shooting range" has the same meaning
  assigned by Section 250.001, Local Government Code;
               (3)  "claimant" has the same meaning assigned by
  Section 41.001;
               (4)  "Clear and convincing evidence" has the same
  meaning assigned by Section 41.001.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), a private suit may
  not be brought against a sport shooting range or its owners or
  operators, or the owners of the real property on which a sport
  shooting range is operated, for recovery of damages resulting from,
  or injunctive relief or abatement of a nuisance relating to, the
  lawful discharge of firearms.
         (c)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit a private suit
  against a sport shooting range or its owners or operators, or the
  owners of the real property on which a sport shooting range is
  operated, for recovery of damages for:
               (1)  breach of contract for use of the real property on
  which a sport shooting range is located;
               (2)  damage or harm to private property caused by the
  unlawful discharge of firearms on a sport shooting range;
               (3)  personal injury or death caused by the unlawful
  discharge of a firearm on a sport shooting range; or
               (4)  injunctive relief to enforce a valid ordinance,
  statute, or regulation.
         (d)  Damages may be awarded, or an injunction may be
  obtained, in a private suit brought pursuant to Subsections (c)(2),
  (c)(3), and (c)(4) only if the claimant establishes a right to
  recovery by clear and convincing evidence.
         Section 2.  Section 229.001, Local Government Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:
         Sec. 229.001.  FIREARMS; EXPLOSIVES.  (a)  A municipality
  may not adopt regulations relating to the transfer, private
  ownership, keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration or
  firearms, ammunition, or firearm supplies, or the discharge of a
  firearm at, or the operation of, a "sport shooting range" as defined
  in Section 250.001.
         (b)  Subsection (a) does not affect the authority a
  municipality has under another law to:
               (1)  require residents or public employees to be armed
  for personal or national defense, law enforcement, or another
  lawful purpose;
               (2)  regulate the discharge of firearms within the
  limits of the municipality, other than at a "sport shooting range" 
  as defined in Section 250.001;
               (3)  regulate the use of property, the location of a
  business, or uses at a business under the municipality's fire code,
  zoning ordinance, or land-use regulations as long as the code,
  ordinance, or regulations are not used to circumvent the intent of
  Subsection (a) or Subdivision (5) of this subsection;
               (4)  regulate the use of firearms in the case of an
  insurrection, riot, or natural disaster if the municipality finds
  the regulations necessary to protect public health and safety;
               (5)  regulate the storage or transportation of
  explosives to protect public health and safety, except that 25
  pounds or less of black powder for each private residence and 50
  pounds or less of black powder for each retail dealer are not
  subject to regulation; or
               (6)  regulate the carrying of a firearm by a person
  other than a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun under
  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, [FN1] at a:
                     (A)  public park;
                     (B)  public meeting of a municipality, county, or
  other governmental body;
                     (C)  political rally, parade, or official
  political meeting; or
                     (D)  nonfirearms-related school, college, or
  professional athletic event.
         SECTION 3.  Subtitle B, Title 7, Local Governmental Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 236 to read as follows:
         CHAPTER 236.  COUNTY REGULATION OF FIREARMS, AMMUNITION AND
  SPORT SHOOTING RANGES
         Sec. 236.001.  FIREARMS; SPORT SHOOTING RANGES.  (a)  In
  this section, "sport shooting range" has the same meaning assigned
  in Section 250.001.
         (b)  A county by order of commissioners court may not adopt
  regulations relating to the transfer, private ownership, keeping,
  transportation, licensing, or registration of firearms,
  ammunition, or firearm supplies, or the discharge of a firearm at,
  or the operation of, a "sport shooting range" as defined in Section
  250.001.
         SECTION 4.  Section 250.001, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  In order to qualify as a "private club" or an
  "association" within the meaning of Subsection (a), at least twenty
  different individuals must discharge firearms at the private club
  or association each calendar year.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.