| TO: | Honorable Joseph Pickett, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety |
| FROM: | Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB2381 by Isaac (Relating to the carrying of a concealed handgun by a license holder on certain premises.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Penal Code to allow individuals under certain circumstances to carry concealed weapons on the grounds of schools, educational institutions, vehicles of schools or educational institutions, amusement parks, places of religious worship, and at certain government meetings. Under current law, carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of these places is a violation of the offenses of carrying a weapon in places that are prohibited and unlawful carrying of a handgun by a license holder. The offenses are punishable by a Class A misdemeanor or a third degree felony, depending on the circumstances. The bill takes effect September 1, 2013, and applies only to an offense committed on or after that date.
Creating an exception to 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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