By: Gutierrez	S.B. No. 1740

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	Relating to gun safety; creating an offense; increasing a criminal
	penalty.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding new
	Sections 46.16, 46.17, and 46.18 to read as follows:
	Sec. 46.16.  UNLAWFUL GUN STORAGE. (a) It is an offense for
	a person to store a firearm, whether loaded or unloaded, or firearm
	ammunition, in a motor vehicle or boat while the person is not in
	the motor vehicle or watercraft unless the firearm or firearm
	ammunition is kept from ordinary observation and locked within the
	trunk, utility or glove box, or a locked container securely affixed
	to the motor vehicle or boat.
	(b)  As used in this subsection (a):
	(1)  "watercraft" has the same meaning as defined in
	Section 46.02 (a-3); (
	(2)  "trunk" means the fully enclosed and locked main
	storage compartment of a motor vehicle that is not accessible from
	the passenger compartment, but does not include any compartment
	that has a window, the bed of a pickup truck, or the rear area of a
	hatchback, station wagon-type motor vehicle, or sport utility motor
	vehicle.
	(c)  A violation of this subsection (a) is a Class C
	misdemeanor punishable only by the completion of a court-approved
	firearm safety course.
	Sec. 46.17.  REPORT OF GUN THEFT. (a) A person who owns a
	firearm shall report the loss or theft of the firearm to a law
	enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the location where the
	firearm was lost or stolen within twenty-four hours of the
	discovery of the loss or theft.
	(b)  A violation of this section is a Class C misdemeanor
	punishable only by the completion of a court-approved firearm
	safety course.
	Sec. 46.18.  REQUIRED SIGNAGE FOR GUN DEALERS. (a) A dealer
	of firearms shall post in a conspicuous position on the premises
	where the dealer conducts business a sign that contains the
	following warning in block letters not less than one inch in height:
	"WARNING: Access to a weapon or firearm in the home
	significantly increases the risk of suicide, homicide, death during
	domestic disputes and unintentional deaths to children, household
	members, and others. If you or loved one is experiencing distress
	and/or depression, call the National Suicide Hotline at 988."
	(b)  A dealer of firearms shall post in a conspicuous
	position on the premises where the dealer conducts business a sign
	that contains the following in block letters not less than one inch
	in height:
	"The sale, storage, use of firearm safety equipment is tax
	free. This includes, a gun lock box, gun safe, barrel lock, trigger
	lock, firearm safety training manual or electronic publication, or
	other item designed to ensure safe handling or storage of a
	firearm."
	SECTION 2.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
	adding new Subchapter L-3 to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER L-3. TEXAS FIREARM SAFETY WARNINGS
	Sec. 411.3801.  DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WARNING
	SYSTEM. With the cooperation of the Texas Department of
	Transportation, the office of the governor, and other appropriate
	law enforcement agencies in this state, the department shall
	develop and implement a firearm safety system to be activated at
	regular intervals to publicize firearm safety and storage policies
	and advice.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
	by adding new Section 161.045 to read as follows:
	Sec. 161.045.  REQUIRED GUN SAFETY INFORMATION. A physician
	facility shall provide to every patient firearm safety and firearm
	storage information.
	SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this
	Act.  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
	and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For
	purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
	effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
	before that date.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.