The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code as it relates to certain locations at which a person is prohibited from carrying a weapon. Under the provisions of the bill, a person would commit an offense if the person possessed a weapon within 100 feet of the premises of any government court or office used by the court as outlined in the bill. Unlawful carrying of weapons in prohibited places is punishable as a third degree felony.

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

Expanding the circumstances in which a criminal penalty can be applied is expected to result in additional demands upon 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. In fiscal year 2018, 431 people were arrested, 31 people were placed under felony direct community supervision, and 11 people were admitted into state correctional institutions for unlawful carrying of a weapons in prohibited places that did not include alcohol premises. This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or the demand for state correctional resources.