By: Huffman  S.B. No. 324
         (In the Senate - Filed January 10, 2019; February 7, 2019,
  read first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
  March 27, 2019, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9,
  Nays 0; March 27, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the disposition of a firearm seized from certain
  persons with mental illness.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Articles 18.191(c) and (d), Code of Criminal
  Procedure, are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Not later than the 30th day after the date a firearm
  subject to disposition under this article is seized, the law
  enforcement agency holding the firearm shall contact the court in
  the county having jurisdiction to order commitment under Chapter
  574, Health and Safety Code, and request the disposition of the
  case.  Not later than the 30th day after the date of this request,
  the clerk of the court shall advise the requesting agency whether
  the person taken into custody was released under Section 573.023 or
  574.028, Health and Safety Code, or was ordered to receive
  inpatient mental health services under Section 574.034 or 574.035,
  Health and Safety Code.
         (d)  Not later than the 30th day after the date the clerk of
  the court informs a law enforcement agency holding a firearm
  subject to disposition under this article that the person taken
  into custody was released under Section 573.023 or 574.028, Health
  and Safety Code, the law enforcement agency shall:
               (1)  conduct a check of state and national criminal
  history record information to verify whether the person may
  lawfully possess a firearm under 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g); and
               (2)  provide written notice to the person by certified
  mail that the firearm may be returned to the person on verification
  under Subdivision (1) that the person may lawfully possess the
  firearm.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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