| TO: | Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2147 by Hilderbran (Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns by certain county officers and employees in a courthouse.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Penal Code to allow certain county officers and employees to carry a concealed handgun on the premises of any government court or offices utilized by the court. Under current law, carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of any government court or offices would be prosecuted as the offense of carrying a weapon in places that are prohibited. The bill creates a defense to prosecution of that offense, which is punishable as a third degree felony. The bill takes effect September 1, 2013, and applies only to an offense committed on or after that date.
Creating a defense to prosecution for any criminal offense is expected to decrease demands on state and/or county correctional agency resources due to fewer persons on community supervision, in county jail confinement, state correctional institution confinement, and/or parole. However, in the case of this bill, it is assumed that any reduction in the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agencies’ workload and programs.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | UP, ESi, GG, JPo
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