BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 514

By: Simmons

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that personal protection officers go through rigorous training and the parties contend that prohibitions against these officers carrying their licensed firearms in certain facilities such as schools and airports could put the lives of both the officer and the person the officer is protecting at risk. H.B. 514 seeks to address this issue by exempting a personal protection officer from the application of certain weapons offenses under certain circumstances.

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. 514 amends the Penal Code to exempt from the application of the offense of unlawful carrying of a weapon and the offense involving possessing or going with certain weapons in places where such weapons are prohibited a person who acts as a personal protection officer and carries the person's security officer commission and personal protection officer endorsement if the person is engaged in the performance of the person's duties as a personal protection officer or is traveling to or from the person's place of assignment and is either wearing the uniform of a security officer and carrying the officer's weapon in plain view or not wearing the uniform of a security officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.