The House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence

85th Legislature

June 25, 2018

10:00 a.m.

E2.014

Pursuant to a notice posted on May 31, 2018, revised on June 1, 2018, the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met in a public hearing and was called to order by the chair, Representative Moody, at 10:11 a.m.

The initial quorum call was answered as follows: Representatives Moody; Hunter; Canales; Hefner; Lang; and Wilson.

A quorum was present.

The Committee heard invited testimony on the following Interim Charges:

Review the applicable portions of the state's penal laws and make legislative recommendations regarding whether existing protective order laws are sufficient or could be amended to include 'red flag' or mental health protective orders or whether 'red flag' or mental health protective orders should be independently created to allow law enforcement, a family member, a school employee, or a district attorney to file a petition seeking removal of firearms from a potentially dangerous person and providing for mental health treatment for the potentially dangerous person, while preserving the fundamental rights of the Second Amendment and ensuring due process.

Examine current statutes designed to protect minors from accessing firearms without proper supervision and make recommendations to ensure responsible and safe firearm storage, including enhancing the penalty to a felony when unauthorized access results in death or bodily injury.