LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT STATEMENT

87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 25, 2021

TO:
Honorable James White, Chair, House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety
 
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB1039 by Goodwin (Relating to the duties of the Department of Public Safety, peace officers, officers of the court, and licensed firearms dealers with respect to the possession or use of a suspended, revoked, or expired license to carry a handgun; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced

The provisions of the bill addressing criminal sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend various codes as they relate to handgun carry licensing and unlawful weapons transfer. Under the provisions of the bill, knowingly presenting a suspended or revoked license to carry a handgun for the purpose of obtaining a firearm would be a weapons transfer offense. Under existing statute, the unlawful transfer of a weapon is a Class A misdemeanor.   

A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by confinement in county jail for a term not to exceed one year and, in addition to confinement, an optional fine not to exceed $4,000.

This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations or on the demand for state correctional resources.




Source Agencies:
LBB Staff:
JMc, DKN, LM, DGI