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 Penal Code to allow a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on the campus of an institution of higher education.  The bill would take effect on September 1, 2013, and only applies to offenses committed on or after that date.  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 630 arrests, 47 were placed under felony community supervision, and 12 were admitted to prison for the offense of places where weapons are prohibited.