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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the reporting of lost or stolen firearms; creating a |
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criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.056 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.056. REPORT OF LOST OR STOLEN FIREARM. (a) A |
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peace officer who receives a report from the owner of a firearm or |
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the owner's agent that the firearm was lost or stolen shall report |
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the loss or theft to the department. The report must include: |
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(1) the name of the owner; |
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(2) any available information about the firearm; and |
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(3) the date that the owner became aware the firearm |
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was lost or stolen. |
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(b) The department shall regularly send all reports |
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received under Subsection (a) to the National Crime Information |
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Center. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 46.135 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.135. FAILURE TO REPORT LOST OR STOLEN FIREARM. (a) |
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A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) owns a firearm that is subsequently lost by or |
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stolen from the person; and |
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(2) fails to report the loss or theft, or cause a |
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report of the loss or theft to be made, to a peace officer or law |
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enforcement agency not later than 24 hours after the time the person |
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became aware the firearm was lost or stolen. |
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(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor, |
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except that the offense is a Class B misdemeanor if it is shown on |
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the trial of the offense that the defendant has been previously |
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convicted of an offense under this section. |
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(c) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under another section of this code, the |
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actor may be prosecuted under either section or under both |
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sections. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |