BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1376

By: Paddie

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that probation and community supervision officers attend firearm training provided by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement in order to carry a gun while on duty and must obtain a concealed handgun license to carry a handgun while off duty. The parties explain that many officers choose to do so because of the nature of their work with criminal offenders, but that these officers must receive duplicative concealed handgun license training before receiving the license. H.B. 1376 seeks to remove this hindrance to these officers obtaining a concealed handgun license.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1376 amends the Government Code to include a person serving in Texas as a community supervision officer or as a juvenile probation officer among the persons authorized to establish handgun proficiency for purposes of procuring a concealed handgun license by obtaining from an approved handgun proficiency instructor a sworn statement indicating that the person demonstrated to the instructor proficiency in the use of handguns during the 12-month period preceding the date of the person's application to the Department of Public Safety for such a license. The bill establishes a reduced fee of $25 for the issuance of an original or renewed concealed handgun license for an applicant who is serving in Texas as a community supervision officer or as a juvenile probation officer. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.