BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 781

By: Sanford

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A public junior college school marshal is required to store a handgun on campus premises in a locked safe at all times. It has been suggested that prohibiting a school marshal from carrying a handgun on their person may limit their ability to respond to an emergency situation in a timely manner. H.B. 781 seeks to address this issue by ensuring that a school marshal for a public junior college has greater access to a handgun while on duty.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 781 amends the Education Code to prohibit any written regulations regarding a public junior college school marshal's authority to carry or possess a handgun on campus premises from requiring a school marshal to store the handgun in a locked container while on duty, regardless of whether the school marshal's primary duty involves regular, direct contact with students.  

H.B. 781 applies beginning with the 2021-2022 school year.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.