85R9200 AJZ-D
 
  By: Garcia S.B. No. 1778
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the provision of information regarding firearm safety
  and suicide prevention.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 411.188(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Only qualified handgun instructors may administer the
  classroom instruction part or the range instruction part of the
  handgun proficiency course.  The classroom instruction part of the
  course must include not less than four hours and not more than six
  hours of instruction on:
               (1)  the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of
  deadly force;
               (2)  handgun use and safety, including use of restraint
  holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly
  carried handguns;
               (3)  nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]
               (4)  proper storage practices for handguns with an
  emphasis on storage practices that eliminate the possibility of
  accidental injury to a child; and
               (5)  the information described by Section 411.189(a).
         SECTION 2.  Section 411.190(b), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  In addition to the qualifications described by
  Subsection (a), a qualified handgun instructor must be qualified to
  instruct persons in:
               (1)  the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of
  deadly force;
               (2)  handgun use, proficiency, and safety, including
  use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying
  of openly carried handguns;
               (3)  nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]
               (4)  proper storage practices for handguns, including
  storage practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental
  injury to a child; and
               (5)  the information described by Section 411.189(a).
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.189 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.189.  FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
  INFORMATION. (a) The department shall post the following on the
  department's Internet website:
               (1)  information regarding:
                     (A)  the importance of an owner of a firearm
  safely storing the firearm, particularly when a member of the
  owner's family or household is at risk of suicide;
                     (B)  the warning signs that a person is at risk of
  suicide; and
                     (C)  the rate of suicide in this state, including
  statistics regarding the method of suicide used; and
               (2)  the phone number for the National Suicide
  Prevention Lifeline.
         (b)  The department shall also include on the department's
  Internet website information regarding the risk of suicide among
  various age groups and veterans and the importance of safely
  storing firearms around a person who is at risk of suicide.
         (c)  The department may provide the information described by
  Subsection (a) to:
               (1)  a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18
  U.S.C. Section 923;
               (2)  an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as
  defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or
               (3)  a promoter or operator of a gun show.
         (d)  The department may partner with suicide prevention
  programs and use existing resources to provide the information
  described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 531.02493 to read as follows:
         Sec. 531.02493.  FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
  INFORMATION. (a)  On the commission's Internet website the
  commission shall post evidence-based information regarding the
  importance of an owner of a firearm safely storing the firearm,
  particularly when a member of the owner's family or household is at
  risk of suicide.
         (b)  The commission shall also include the information
  described by Subsection (a) on any portion of the commission's
  Internet website that provides information primarily to veterans or
  to minors and their parents.
         (c)  The commission may provide the information described by
  Subsection (a) to:
               (1)  a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18
  U.S.C. Section 923;
               (2)  an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as
  defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or
               (3)  a promoter or operator of a gun show.
         (d)  The commission may partner with suicide prevention
  programs and use existing resources to provide the information
  described by Subsection (a).
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.