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               A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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               AN ACT
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            relating to the processing of applications for a license to carry a  | 
         
         
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            handgun during a state of disaster or state of emergency. | 
         
         
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                   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is  | 
         
         
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            amended by adding Section 411.1851 to read as follows: | 
         
         
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                   Sec. 411.1851.  LICENSE PROCESSING NOT AFFECTED BY STATE OF  | 
         
         
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            EMERGENCY OR STATE OF DISASTER.  Notwithstanding a declaration of a  | 
         
         
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            state of emergency under Section 433.001, a state of disaster under  | 
         
         
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            Section 418.014, or a local state of disaster under Section  | 
         
         
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            418.108, or any other executive order or proclamation related to  | 
         
         
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            the disaster or emergency, the department: | 
         
         
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                         (1)  may not refuse to accept an application under  | 
         
         
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            Section 411.174 for a license to carry a handgun, if the application  | 
         
         
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            has been properly completed in accordance with that section; | 
         
         
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                         (2)  shall allow the submission of fingerprints under  | 
         
         
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            Section 411.175; | 
         
         
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                         (3)  shall review application materials in accordance  | 
         
         
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            with Section 411.176; | 
         
         
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                         (4)  shall issue a license to carry a handgun under  | 
         
         
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            Section 411.177 in accordance with that section; | 
         
         
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                         (5)  may not deny, revoke, or suspend a license to carry  | 
         
         
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            a handgun, except as expressly authorized under this subchapter; | 
         
         
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                         (6)  may not refuse to accept or process a notice  | 
         
         
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            regarding a change of information or applications for a duplicate  | 
         
         
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            license under Section 411.181; and | 
         
         
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                         (7)  may not refuse to accept or process an application  | 
         
         
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            to renew a license under Section 411.185, if the application has  | 
         
         
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            been properly completed in accordance with that section. | 
         
         
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                   SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives  | 
         
         
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            a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as  | 
         
         
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            provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this  | 
         
         
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            Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this  | 
         
         
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            Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |