88R1871 AJZ-D
 
  By: Goodwin H.B. No. 236
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring a national instant criminal background check
  in connection with private 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. REGULATION OF PRIVATE FIREARM TRANSFERS
         Sec. 205.051.  REQUIREMENTS FOR PRIVATE FIREARM TRANSFER;
  OFFENSE.  (a)  A person may not sell or otherwise transfer a firearm
  to another person unless:
               (1)  the person is a licensed firearms dealer; or
               (2)  the person is not a licensed firearms dealer, and:
                     (A)  the person sells or transfers the firearm to
  a licensed firearms dealer;
                     (B)  the transferor and the transferee are related
  within the first degree by consanguinity or affinity as determined
  under Chapter 573, Government Code; or
                     (C)  before delivering the firearm to the person
  to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred, the person selling
  or transferring the firearm requests that a licensed firearms
  dealer conduct, in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922, a
  national instant criminal background check to verify that the
  person to whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully
  possess a firearm.
         (b)  A person who violates this section commits an offense.
  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 205.052.  DUTIES OF LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER. (a)  If a
  licensed firearms dealer receives a request to conduct a national
  instant criminal background check under Section 205.051(a)(2)(C),
  the dealer shall:
               (1)  in the manner required by 18 U.S.C. Section 922,
  conduct the criminal background check to verify that the person to
  whom the firearm is being sold or transferred may lawfully possess a
  firearm; and
               (2)  notify the person who is selling or transferring
  the firearm of the results of the criminal background check.
         (b)  A licensed firearms dealer who performs a national
  instant criminal background check under this section may collect a
  reasonable fee from the person who requests the criminal background
  check.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.