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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the possession of a knife, knuckles, or a switchblade |
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knife on the grounds or in the building of a public school; creating |
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a criminal offense. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 37, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 37.127 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 37.127. POSSESSION OF CERTAIN WEAPONS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL |
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GROUNDS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Knife" means any bladed hand instrument that is |
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capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or |
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stabbing a person with the instrument. |
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(2) "Knuckles" means any instrument that consists of |
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finger rings or guards made of a hard substance and that is |
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designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious |
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bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in |
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the knuckles. |
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(3) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a |
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blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and |
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that: |
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(A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a |
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button or other device located on the handle; or |
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(B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or |
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sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal |
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force. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person possesses a |
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knife, knuckles, or a switchblade knife while on the grounds or in a |
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building of a public school. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. |
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(d) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that |
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the actor possessed the knife, knuckles, or switchblade knife in |
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the actual discharge of duties as a school district peace officer, |
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school resource officer, or school security personnel. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |