Honorable Poncho Nevárez, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
FROM:
John McGeady, Assistant Director Sarah Keyton, Assistant Director Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1207 by Rodriguez (Relating to reporting the loss or theft of a firearm; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Penal Code to create a Class C misdemeanor for failure to report a lost or stolen firearm owned by a person within 5 days the person became aware the firearm was lost or stolen.
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to require the clerk of the court where a person was convicted or placed on deferred adjudication for this new offense to provide the Department of Public Safety (DPS) written notice of the conviction or deferred adjudication.
The bill would amend the Government Code to require a peace officer who receives a report of a lost or stolen firearm to report the loss to DPS and for DPS to retain the report for 5 years following the date the firearm's owner became aware the firearm was missing.
Based on the analysis of the Office of Court Administration and the Department of Public Safety, duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2019.
Local Government Impact
According the Office of Court Administration, although the bill creates a new Class C criminal offense and requires court clerks to make certain reports to the DPS, no significant fiscal impact to local courts is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 405 Department of Public Safety