Honorable Phil King, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB264 by Perry (Relating to an application made by a peace officer, county jailer, or state correctional officer to obtain a license to carry a handgun.), Committee Report 2nd House, Substituted
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 the Government Code to 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.
The bill would also 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 the Department of Public Safety (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.
The bill would 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. It is assumed that the costs to DPS for implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
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.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 696 Department of Criminal Justice