| TO: | Honorable John Whitmire, Chair, Senate Committee on Criminal Justice |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB972 by Fletcher (Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the premises of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Government Code and Penal Code to authorize a president or other chief executive officer of a public or private institution of higher education (IHE) to determine on an annual basis whether to allow individuals possessing a concealed handgun license (CHL) issued in the state of Texas to carry a concealed handgun on premises owned or leased by the IHE. The bill would require an IHE who opts to allow CHL holders to carry a handgun on campus premises to establish rules governing the storage of handguns in dormitories and the carrying of handguns at collegiate sporting events or other mass gatherings that take place on grounds owned or leased by the IHE.
The bill would proscribe IHEs from enforcing any rule, action or regulation to prohibit individuals possesing a valid CHL from transporting or storing a handgun in a locked car owned or leased by the same individual that is on a street or parking facility located on the campus of an IHE.
The bill would authorize the following entities to prohibit individuals possessing a valid CHL from carrying handguns on their premises provided effective notice is given pursuant to Section 30.06 of the Penal Code: a hospital maintained or operated by an IHE; a preschool, elementary school or secondary school located on the campus of an IHE; or premises maintanined and operated by the IHE that is used for the operation of a national biocontainment laboratory.
The bill would stipulate an IHE, an IHE officer or employee, a peace officer or a handgun instructor may not be held liable for damages or cause under the provisions of the bill.
For IHEs opting to allow individuals possessing valid CHLs to carry handguns on campus premises, the bill's provisions could increase costs related to campus police operations, security programs, and staff training. Adaptation of campus facilities to accommodate the storage of handguns could also result in new costs for these IHEs.
It is assumed implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within current appropriation levels. The bill would take effect January 1, 2014.
Local community college districts opting to allow individuals possessing valid CHLs to carry handguns on campus could experience increased costs related to campus police operations, security programs, and staff training. Adaptation of community college campus facilities to accommodate the storage of handguns could result in new costs for those community college districts.
| Source Agencies: | 405 Department of Public Safety, 710 Texas A&M University System Administrative and General Offices, 720 The University of Texas System Administration, 758 Texas State University System, 768 Texas Tech University System Administration, 769 University of North Texas System Administration, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board, 783 University of Houston System Administration
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| LBB Staff: | UP, JAW, ESi, AI, JPo
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