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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain |
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other locations associated with institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.2031(e), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(e) An institution of higher education or [A] private or |
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independent institution of higher education in this state, after |
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consulting with students, staff, and faculty of the institution, |
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may establish rules, regulations, or other provisions prohibiting |
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license holders from carrying handguns on the campus of the |
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institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored |
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by the institution is being conducted, or a passenger |
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transportation vehicle owned by the institution. |
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SECTION 2. Sections 411.208(a), (b), and (d), Government |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A court may not hold the state, an agency or subdivision |
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of the state, an officer or employee of the state, an institution of |
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higher education[, an officer] or [employee of an institution of |
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higher education, a] private or independent institution of higher |
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education that has not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an |
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officer or employee of an institution of higher education or [a] |
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private or independent institution of higher education that has not |
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adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), a peace officer, a |
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qualified handgun instructor, or an approved online course provider |
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liable for damages caused by: |
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(1) an action authorized under this subchapter or a |
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failure to perform a duty imposed by this subchapter; or |
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(2) the actions of an applicant or license holder that |
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occur after the applicant has received a license or been denied a |
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license under this subchapter. |
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(b) A cause of action in damages may not be brought against |
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the state, an agency or subdivision of the state, an officer or |
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employee of the state, an institution of higher education[, an |
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officer] or [employee of an institution of higher education, a] |
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private or independent institution of higher education that has not |
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adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an officer or employee of |
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an institution of higher education or [a] private or independent |
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institution of higher education that has not adopted rules under |
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Section 411.2031(e), a peace officer, a qualified handgun |
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instructor, or an approved online course provider for any damage |
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caused by the actions of an applicant or license holder under this |
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subchapter. |
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(d) The immunities granted under Subsections (a), (b), and |
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(c) do not apply to: |
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(1) an act or a failure to act by the state, an agency |
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or subdivision of the state, an officer of the state, an institution |
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of higher education[, an officer] or [employee of an institution of |
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higher education, a] private or independent institution of higher |
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education that has not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an |
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officer or employee of an institution of higher education or [a] |
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private or independent institution of higher education that has not |
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adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), or a peace officer if the |
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act or failure to act was capricious or arbitrary; or |
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(2) any officer or employee of an institution of |
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higher education or private or independent institution of higher |
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education described by Subdivision (1) who possesses a handgun on |
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the campus of that institution and whose conduct with regard to the |
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handgun is made the basis of a claim for personal injury or property |
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damage. |
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SECTION 3. Section 46.03(a-3), Penal Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(a-3) Notwithstanding Subsection (a) or Section 46.02(a-5), |
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a license holder commits an offense if the license holder carries a |
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handgun on the campus of an institution of higher education or [a] |
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private or independent institution of higher education in this |
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state that has established rules, regulations, or other provisions |
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prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns pursuant to |
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Section 411.2031(e), Government Code, or on the grounds or building |
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on which an activity sponsored by such an institution is being |
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conducted, or in a passenger transportation vehicle of such an |
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institution, regardless of whether the handgun is concealed, |
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provided the institution gives effective notice under Section |
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30.06. |
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SECTION 4. Section 46.15(j), Penal Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(j) The provisions of Sections 46.02 and 46.03(a)(7), |
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(a-2), and (a-3) [, and (a-4)] do not apply to an individual who |
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carries a handgun as a participant in a historical reenactment |
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performed in accordance with the rules of the Texas Alcoholic |
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Beverage Commission. |
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SECTION 5. The following laws are repealed: |
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(1) Sections 411.2031(c), (d-1), (d-2), (d-3), and |
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(d-4), Government Code; and |
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(2) Section 46.03(a-4), Penal Code. |
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SECTION 6. Section 411.208, Government Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after |
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the effective date of this Act. A cause of action that accrues |
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before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in |
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effect immediately before that date, and that law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |