By: Guillen H.B. No. 333

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring notice of a hotel's firearms policy; providing a civil penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 2155, Occupations Code, is amended by adding Subchapter C to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER C. FIREARMS POLICY NOTICE

Sec. 2155.101. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "hotel" has the meaning assigned by Section 156.001, Tax Code.

Sec. 2155.102. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter applies only to a hotel that has a policy prohibiting or restricting the possession, storage, or transportation of firearms by hotel guests.

Sec. 2155.103. NOTICE REGARDING FIREARMS POLICY. (a) A hotel shall post on the hotel's Internet reservation website the hotel's policy regarding the possession, storage, and transportation of firearms. The hotel shall require the consumer to acknowledge that the consumer has read the hotel's firearms policy before the consumer finalizes the reservation with the hotel.

(b) A hotel shall include information on how a consumer may review the hotel's policy regarding the possession, storage, and transportation of firearms if the hotel provides a written confirmation or other terms and conditions to the consumer after accepting the consumer's hotel reservation by telephone.

Sec. 2155.104. COURT WARNING; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A court may issue a warning to a hotel for a first violation of this subchapter. After receiving a warning for the first violation, the hotel is liable to the state for a civil penalty of $200 for each subsequent violation.

(b) The attorney general or an appropriate prosecuting attorney may file suit for the issuance of a warning or the collection of a civil penalty under this section.

(c) A civil penalty collected under this section shall be sent to the comptroller for deposit in the general revenue fund.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.