85R8031 JSC-D

By: Phillips H.B. No. 2066

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the requirements for certain applicants to obtain an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun; waiving fees.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. The heading to Section 411.1991, Government Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 411.1991. PEACE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES.

SECTION 2. Section 411.1991, Government Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(b) The department may issue a license under this subchapter to an applicant under this section if the applicant complies with Subsection (a-1) or rules adopted under Subsection (a-2), as applicable, and meets all other requirements of this subchapter, except that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by Section 411.188.

(b-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the department shall waive any fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter for an applicant under this section.

(d) A license issued to an applicant under this section expires as provided by Section 411.183.

SECTION 3. Section 411.1951, Government Code, is redesignated as Section 411.1994, Government Code, and amended to read as follows:

Sec. 411.1994 [411.1951]. CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICE [WAIVER OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR] MEMBERS AND [OR] VETERANS [OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES]. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a person who:

(1) has served in:

(A) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or marine corps of the United States;

(B) the Texas military forces as defined by Section 437.001; or

(C) an auxiliary service of one of those branches of the armed forces; and

(2) has been honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the person served.

(b) This section applies only to an [Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the department shall waive any fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter if the] applicant for a [the] license under this subchapter who is:

(1) a member of the United States armed forces, including a member of the reserves, national guard, or state guard; or

(2) a veteran [who, within 365 days preceding the date of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of service in which the person served].

(c) The department may issue a license under this subchapter to an applicant under this section if the applicant meets all requirements of this subchapter, except that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by Section 411.188.

(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, the department shall waive any fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this subchapter for an applicant under this section.

(e) A license issued to an applicant under this section expires as provided by Section 411.183 [Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, if the applicant is a veteran who, more than 365 days preceding the date of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the applicant served:

[(1) the applicant must pay a fee of $25 for the issuance of an original or renewed license under this subchapter; and

[(2) the department shall reduce by 50 percent any fee required of the applicant for a duplicate or modified license under this subchapter].

SECTION 4. Sections 411.1881 and 411.1991(c), Government Code, are repealed.

SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only to an application that is made to obtain an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun and submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An application described by this section that is submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.