88R1095 AJZ-D
 
  By: Ortega H.B. No. 155
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring a national instant criminal background check
  in connection with certain firearm transfers; creating a criminal
  offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 6, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 205 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 205. REGULATION OF PRIVATE FIREARM TRANSFERS
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 205.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section
  46.01, Penal Code.
               (2)  "Licensed firearms dealer" means a person who is
  licensed as a firearms dealer under 18 U.S.C. Section 923.
  SUBCHAPTER B. NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK FOR
  PRIVATE FIREARM TRANSFERS
         Sec. 205.051.  NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
  REQUIRED FOR PRIVATE TRANSFER OF FIREARM. A person may not sell or
  otherwise transfer a firearm to another person unless:
               (1)  the person is a licensed firearms dealer;
               (2)  the person sells or transfers the firearm to a
  licensed firearms dealer; or
               (3)  before the firearm is delivered to the person to
  whom the firearm is being sold or transferred, the person selling or
  transferring the firearm delivers the firearm to a licensed
  firearms dealer to retain possession of the firearm until the
  dealer conducts a national instant criminal background check in the
  manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922 and verifies that the
  person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully
  possess a firearm.
         Sec. 205.052.  DUTIES OF LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER. (a) If a
  licensed firearms dealer receives a firearm under Section
  205.051(3), the dealer shall conduct a national instant criminal
  background check in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922 to
  verify that the person to whom the firearm is being sold or
  transferred may lawfully possess a firearm.
         (b)  If a licensed firearms dealer determines that the person
  to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may not lawfully
  possess a firearm, the dealer shall return the firearm to the person
  selling or transferring the firearm.
         (c)  If a licensed firearms dealer determines that the person
  to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully
  possess a firearm, the dealer shall transfer the firearm as
  directed by the person selling or transferring the firearm.
         (d)  A licensed firearms dealer to whom a firearm is
  delivered under Section 205.051(3) may collect a reasonable fee
  from the person who is selling or transferring the firearm.
         Sec. 205.053.  NONAPPLICABILITY. This subchapter does not
  apply to: 
               (1)  a sale or transfer of a firearm to a person
  licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
  Government Code;
               (2)  a sale or transfer of a firearm to or from:
                     (A)  a law enforcement agency or law enforcement
  officer for law enforcement purposes;
                     (B)  a member of the United States armed forces or
  National Guard in the discharge of official duties; or 
                     (C)  a security officer who holds a security
  officer commission under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, and who is
  acting within the course and scope of official duties;
               (3)  a sale or transfer of a firearm by the owner of the
  firearm if the transferor and the transferee are related within the
  third degree by consanguinity or within the second degree by
  affinity as determined under Chapter 573, Government Code, and if
  the transferor does not have any reason to believe that:
                     (A)  local, state, or federal law prohibits the
  transferee from purchasing or possessing a firearm; or
                     (B)  the transferee is likely to use the firearm
  for an unlawful purpose; 
               (4)  a temporary transfer of a firearm that is
  reasonably necessary to prevent imminent death or bodily harm,
  including harm to self or another person, if the transferee
  possesses the firearm only to the extent reasonably necessary to
  prevent the imminent death or bodily harm;
               (5)  a sale or transfer of a firearm that is an antique,
  curio, or relic; 
               (6)  a transfer of a firearm that is authorized by
  Section 5812 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section
  5812);
               (7)  a transfer of a firearm to or from a gunsmith for
  the purpose of service or repair; or
               (8)  a temporary loan of a firearm to a person:
                     (A)  while in the presence of the transferor; 
                     (B)  on the premises of a sport shooting range, as
  defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code, and solely for
  the purpose of shooting at lawful targets at the range; 
                     (C)  for the purpose of lawful hunting or
  sporting, or for any other lawful recreational activity; or
                     (D)  at a lawful competition involving the use of
  a firearm.
         Sec. 205.054.  OFFENSE. A person who violates this
  subchapter commits an offense. An offense under this section is a
  Class B misdemeanor.  Each firearm sold or transferred in violation
  of this subchapter constitutes a separate offense.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.