Honorable Joe Straus, Speaker of the House, House of Representatives
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB3784 by Holland (Relating to persons approved by the Department of Public Safety to administer online the classroom instruction part of the handgun proficiency course.), As Passed 2nd House
The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined at this time. It is unknown to what extent county jailers or state correctional officers would apply for a license to carry a handgun
The bill would amend multiple sections of the Government Code to:
1) Authorize the administration of online courses for the classroom portion of handgun proficiency instruction.
2) Require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to distribute standards and course requirements to approved online course providers.
3) Exempt from range instruction certain persons applying for a license to carry a handgun. The provisions of the bill would apply to a person who has, within ten years preceding the date of the person's application for the license, completed a range qualification process for firearm usage as a part of the person's service with the armed forces or Texas Military Forces.
4) Eliminate the requirement for a peace officer to complete the handgun proficiency course described by Section 411.188, Government Code, in order to obtain an original or renewal license to carry a handgun.
5) Authorize an applicant for an original or renewal license to carry a handgun who is a county jailer or a state correctional officer to be exempted from range instruction, as described by Section 411.188, Government Code, if DPS is satisfied that the applicant is proficient in the use of a handgun, and providing that the applicant submits to DPS additional information including job validation and evidence that the applicant has satisfactorily completed a training program, as required by the bill.
6) Require DPS to waive any fee required for an original or renewal license to carry a handgun for an applicant who is a county jailer or a state correctional officer. The Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) reports the provision excluding police officers from the handgun proficiency course requirement would have no fiscal impact. The CPA also reports the total number of county jailer and correctional officer applicants subject to the bill's provisions who would apply for or renew a license to carry a handgun in this subchapter is unknown. Therefore, the fiscal impact to the state cannot be determined.
It is assumed any costs associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.