| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the offense of possessing a weapon in a secured area of |
|
|
an airport. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 46.03(c)(3), Penal Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(3) "Secured area" means an area of an airport |
|
|
terminal building to which access is controlled by the inspections |
|
|
of persons and property under federal law, or an aircraft parking |
|
|
area that is used by common carriers in air transportation but not |
|
|
by general aviation and to which access is controlled under federal |
|
|
law. The term does not include a baggage claim area, a motor vehicle |
|
|
parking area used by passengers, employees, or persons awaiting an |
|
|
arrival, or an area used by the public to pick up or drop off |
|
|
passengers or employees. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 46.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to read |
|
|
as follows: |
|
|
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5) |
|
|
that the actor: |
|
|
(1) checked all firearms as baggage in accordance with |
|
|
federal or state law or regulations before entering a secured area; |
|
|
or |
|
|
(2) was authorized by a federal agency or the airport |
|
|
operator to possess a firearm in a secured area. |
|
|
SECTION 3. 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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |