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AN ACT
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relating to a concealed handgun license application that is |
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submitted by a peace officer or a member of the state military |
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forces. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.1991, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1) and |
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(a-2) to read as follows: |
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(a) A person who is licensed as a peace officer under |
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Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and [is] employed as a peace |
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officer by a law enforcement agency, or who is a member of the Texas |
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military forces, excluding Texas State Guard members who are |
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serving in the Texas Legislature, may apply for a license under this |
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subchapter. |
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(a-1) An applicant who is a peace officer [The person] shall |
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submit to the department [two complete sets of legible and
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classifiable fingerprints and a sworn statement of the head of the
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law enforcement agency employing the applicant. A head of a law
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enforcement agency may not refuse to issue a statement under this
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subsection. If the applicant alleges that the statement is untrue,
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the department shall investigate the validity of the statement. The
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statement must include]: |
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(1) the name and rank of the applicant; and |
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(2) a current copy of the applicant's peace officer |
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license and evidence of employment as a peace officer [whether the
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applicant has been accused of misconduct at any time during the
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applicant's period of employment with the agency and the
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disposition of that accusation;
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[(3)
a description of the physical and mental
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condition of the applicant;
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[(4)
a list of the types of weapons the applicant has
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demonstrated proficiency with during the preceding year; and
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[(5)
a recommendation from the agency head that a
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license be issued to the person under this subchapter]. |
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(a-2) The department shall adopt rules regarding the |
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information required to be included in an application submitted by |
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a member of the Texas military forces under this section. |
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(b) The department may issue a license under this subchapter |
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to an applicant under this section if the [statement from the head
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of the law enforcement agency employing the] applicant complies |
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with Subsection (a-1) or rules adopted under Subsection (a-2), as |
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applicable [(a) and indicates that the applicant is qualified and
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physically and mentally fit to carry a handgun]. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application for a license to carry a concealed handgun that is |
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submitted to the Department of Public Safety on or after the |
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effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2604 was passed by the House on April |
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16, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2604 was passed by the Senate on May |
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15, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: _____________________ |
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Date |
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_____________________ |
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Governor |