The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code relating to the offense of possessing a weapon in a secured area of an airport. Under the provisions of the bill, the definition of a secured area would be expanded. Under existing statute, possessing a weapon where prohibited is a third degree felony. The bill would also provide exception to application of the offense for persons under specified circumstances.

 
A third degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for a term from 2 to 10 years and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

 
Amending the definition of a secured area is expected to result in additional demands on the correctional resources of counties or of the State due to an increase in the number of individuals placed under supervision in the community or sentenced to a term of confinement within state correctional institutions, while the bill's provision of exception to application of the offense is expected to result in a decrease of these demands.  In fiscal year 2018, 432 individuals were arrested, 31 were placed under felony community supervision, and 11 were admitted into state correctional institutions for possessing a weapon where prohibited. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on the demand for state correctional resources.