The provisions of the bill that are the subject of this analysis are the provisions dealing with felony sanctions for criminal offenses. The bill would amend the Government Code and Penal Code to allow a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on the campus of an institution of higher education if certain criteria were met. A person could not carry a concealed handgun in a hospital or preschool, elementary school, or secondary school located on the campus if the hospital or school give effective notice.  The bill only applies to offenses committed on or after January 1, 2014.   Under current law, carrying a concealed handgun on the campus of an institution of higher education is a third degree felony.

A third-degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to ten years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.  The impact of the bill on correctional populations would depend on how many fewer persons would be prosecuted under the proposed statute compared to existing statute. In fiscal year 2012, there were 630 arrests, 47 placements under felony community supervision, and 12 admissions to prison for the offense of places where weapons are prohibited.

It is assumed that the number of offenders supervised or incarcerated under this statute would not significantly impact state correctional agency resources.