86R23494 MAW-F
 
  By: Anchia, King of Parker, Tinderholt, H.B. No. 1168
      Turner of Tarrant, Meza
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
 
  relating to the offense of possessing a weapon in a secured area of
  an airport.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 46.03(c)(3), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (3)  "Secured area" means an area:
                     (A)  of an airport terminal building or of an
  adjacent aircraft parking area used by common carriers in air
  transportation but not used by general aviation; and
                     (B)  to which access is controlled [by the
  inspection of persons and property] under federal law.
         SECTION 2.  Section 46.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (e)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5)
  that the actor:
               (1)  checked all firearms as baggage in accordance with
  federal or state law or regulations before entering a secured area;
  or
               (2)  was authorized by a federal agency or the airport
  operator to possess a firearm in a secured area.
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.