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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requirements for certain applicants to obtain an |
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original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a |
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handgun; waiving a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.175, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.175. PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING FINGERPRINTS. The |
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department shall establish procedures for the submission of legible |
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and classifiable fingerprints by an applicant for a license under |
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this subchapter who: |
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(1) is required to submit those fingerprints to the |
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department, including an applicant under Section 411.199[,
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411.1991,] or 411.201; and |
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(2) resides in a county having a population of 46,000 |
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or less and does not reside within a 25-mile radius of a facility |
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with the capability to process digital or electronic fingerprints. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by amending Section 411.1991 and adding Section 411.1993 to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.1991. PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A person who is |
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licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, |
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and employed as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency[, or who
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is a member of the Texas military forces, excluding Texas State
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Guard members who are serving in the Texas Legislature,] may apply |
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for a license under this subchapter. |
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(b) [(a-1)] An applicant who is a peace officer shall submit |
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to the department: |
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(1) the name and rank of the applicant; and |
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(2) a current copy of the applicant's peace officer |
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license and evidence of employment as a peace officer. |
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(c) The department may issue a license under this subchapter |
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to an applicant under this section if the applicant complies with |
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Subsection (b) and meets all other requirements of this subchapter, |
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except that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun |
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proficiency course described by Section 411.188. |
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(d) The department shall waive any fee required for the |
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issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license |
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under this subchapter for an applicant under this section. |
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(e) A license issued to an applicant under this section |
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expires as provided by Section 411.183. |
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Sec. 411.1993. CERTAIN MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES. |
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(a) A person who is a member of the Texas military forces, other |
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than a member of the Texas State Guard who is serving in the Texas |
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Legislature, may apply for a license under this subchapter. |
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(b) [(a-2)] The department shall adopt rules regarding the |
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information required to be included in an application submitted by |
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a member of the Texas military forces under this section. |
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(c) [(b)] The department may issue a license under this |
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subchapter to an applicant under this section if the applicant |
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complies with the [Subsection (a-1) or] rules adopted under |
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Subsection (b) [(a-2), as applicable]. |
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(d) [(c)] An applicant under this section shall pay a fee of |
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$25 for a license issued under this subchapter. |
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(e) [(d)] A license issued to an applicant under this |
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section expires as provided by Section 411.183. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application that is made to obtain an original, duplicate, |
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modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun and submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application described by |
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this section that is submitted before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |