LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT
 
84TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
May 8, 2015

TO:
Honorable Larry Phillips, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
 
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
SB11 by Birdwell (Relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education; providing a criminal penalty.), As Engrossed

The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend various codes to allow concealed handgun license holders to carry concealed handguns on campuses of higher education and certain associated locations. At present, possession of a firearm on a campus of higher education is a third degree felony. A third degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term of two to 10 years and an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

 

In fiscal year 2014, 563 individuals were arrested, 38 were placed under felony community supervision, and fewer than 10 were admitted to state correctional institutions for possessing a weapon in a prohibited place. A statewide repository containing the level of detail necessary to isolate those individuals who held concealed handgun licenses and possessed concealed handguns on campuses of higher education at the time of the offense from all other individuals arrested and convicted under the statute referenced by the bill is not currently available. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.



Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
UP, ESi, LM