BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1573
86R326 ADM-D	By: Alvarado
	Criminal Justice
	4/7/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

S.B. 1573 provides the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) with the authority to raise public awareness on firearm safety. S.B. 1573 would direct DPS to implement a campaign designed to encourage firearm safety by focusing on safe storage, preventing suicide, and children-involved accidents.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015 approximately 3,200 Texans died by incidents involving firearms, including 114 children. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence estimates that nearly 200,000 children in Texas live in homes with loaded and unlocked guns.

C.S.S.B. 1573 will amend S.B. 1573 to include the Department of State Health Services, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and other appropriate agencies in the development and implementation. Additionally, the language is changed from "advocacy organizations" on line 19 to "education programs that seek to encourage firearm owner to embrace the importance of fire arm storage." C.S.S.B. 1573 removes the establishment of a process in which an applicant for an original or renewed license is authorized to make a voluntary donation in support of the campaign.

As proposed, S.B. 1573 amends current law relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and suicide prevention.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, by adding Section 411.210, as follows:

Sec. 411.210. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. (a) Requires the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) to develop and implement a public awareness campaign designed to encourage firearm safety and to improve public awareness on the topics of:

(1) prevention of firearm accidents involving children;

(2) suicide prevention; and

(3) the safe handling and storage of firearms.

(b) Authorizes DPS, in implementing the campaign, to engage in online advocacy, issue public service announcements, and distribute materials that cover the topics described by Subsection (a). Authorizes DPS to publish its own materials or to distribute materials published by firearm safety advocacy organizations.

(c) Authorizes DPS to establish a process under which an applicant for an original or renewed license under this subchapter (License to Carry a Handgun) is authorized to make a voluntary donation to support the campaign.

(d) Authorizes DPS to pay the costs of the campaign and its administration from:

(1) gifts, grants, or donations, including donations collected under Subsection (c), if applicable;

(2) matching funds; and

(3) other funds made available for that purpose, including available DPS revenue.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.