BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	S.B. 264
85R2471 ADM-D	By: Perry
	State Affairs
	3/14/2017
	As Filed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, state correctional officers are eligible for a discount when applying for a concealed handgun license (CHL) (now termed a License to Carry; LTC). The legislature chose to give this discount based on the hazardous conditions of their professions.

 

Interested parties note that this discount is extended only to state level jailers and excludes their county level counterparts. This bill amends the law to include county correctional officers, who face the same hazards as state correctional officers.

 

A person employed as a jailer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, or Section 85.005, Local Government Code, undergoes extensive firearm training far beyond what is required to obtain a license to carry a firearm in Texas. However, individuals employed as jailers are required to undergo and pay for additional firearm training in order to obtain a license to carry.

 

This bill allows jailers who have completed their training, received an active jailer license, and completed the LTC application and paid the reduced fee of $25, the ability to obtain a license to carry without going through additional LTC firearm training.

 

As proposed, S.B. 264 amends current law relating to an application made by a county jailer to obtain a license to carry a handgun and reduces a fee.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Section 411.1993, as follows:

 

Sec. 411.1993. COUNTY JAILERS. (a) Defines �county jailer.�

 

(b) Authorizes a county jailer who holds a county jailer license issued under Chapter 1701 (Law Enforcement Officers), Occupations Code, to apply for a license under this subchapter.

 

(c) Requires an applicant who is a county jailer to submit to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS):

 

(1) the name and job title of the applicant;

 

(2) a current copy of the applicant�s county jailer license and evidence of employment as a county jailer; and

 

(3) evidence that the applicant has satisfactorily completed the preparatory training program required under Section 1701.310 (Appointment of County Jailer; Training Required), Occupations Code, including the demonstration of weapons proficiency required as part of the training program under Section 1701.307 (Issuance of Officer or County Jailer License), Occupations Code.�

 

(d) Authorizes DPS to issue a license to an applicant if the applicant submits the required information and provides that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by Section 411.188 (Handgun Proficiency Requirement) to obtain the license.

 

(e) Provides that a license issued to an applicant expires as provided by Section 411.183 (Expiration).

 

(f) Requires an applicant who is a county jailer to pay a fee of $25 for the issuance of an original or renewed license, regardless of whether the application for the license is made under this section.

 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2017.