Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB554 by Springer (Relating to a defense to prosecution for the offense of possessing or carrying a weapon in or into the secured area of an airport.), As Introduced
The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code to provide a defense to prosecution for the offense of unlawful carrying of weapons in prohibited places. The bill would permit individuals with a license to carry a concealed handgun to immediately exit a screening checkpoint of an airport upon notification that the person possessed a handgun.
Possessing a weapon in a prohibited place is currently a third degree felony, punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to ten years and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.
In fiscal year 2014, 581 people were arrested, 30 were placed under felony supervision, and 10 were admitted to correctional institutions for the offense of possessing a weapon in a prohibited place. The secured area of an airport is one of several locations where possessing a weapon is prohibited; however, statewide data are not available to indicate which of these persons possessed a weapon in a secured area of an airport. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill would not significantly impact state correctional populations, programs, or workloads.