BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1692

By: Hefner

Public Education

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that allowing a school employee or other person who holds a handgun license to transport or store a legal firearm or ammunition in a privately owned vehicle located in a school parking area would ensure a safer environment for school employees and citizens. H.B. 1692 seeks to ensure that such action by a license holder is not prohibited.

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. 1692 amends the Government Code to prohibit a public school district, open-enrollment charter school, or private school from prohibiting a person, including a school employee, who holds a handgun license from transporting or storing a handgun or other firearm or ammunition in a locked, privately owned or leased motor vehicle in a parking area provided by the district or charter or private school, provided that the handgun, firearm, or ammunition is not in plain view. The bill expressly does not authorize a person to possess, store, or transport a handgun, firearm, or ammunition in violation of Education Code provisions establishing the offense of exhibition of a firearm or Penal Code provisions establishing the offenses of possessing or going with a prohibited weapon in a place where weapons are prohibited and the unlawful carrying of a handgun by a handgun license holder.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.