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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and |
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suicide prevention. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.210 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.210. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PUBLIC |
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AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. (a) The department, in conjunction with the |
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Department of State Health Services, the Parks and Wildlife |
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Department, and other appropriate agencies, shall develop and |
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implement a public awareness campaign designed to encourage firearm |
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safety and to improve public awareness on the topics of: |
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(1) prevention of firearm accidents involving |
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children; |
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(2) suicide prevention; and |
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(3) the safe handling and storage of firearms. |
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(b) In implementing the campaign, the department may engage |
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in online advocacy, issue public service announcements, and |
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distribute materials that cover the topics described by Subsection |
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(a). The department may publish its own materials on those topics |
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or may distribute materials published by firearm safety education |
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programs that seek to encourage firearm owners to embrace the |
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importance of firearm storage. |
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(c) The department may pay the costs of the campaign and its |
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administration from: |
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(1) gifts, grants, or donations; |
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(2) matching funds; and |
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(3) other funds made available for that purpose, |
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including available department revenue. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |