Bill Text: TX HB276 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the carrying or possession of a handgun by certain retired judges and justices and certain other governmental officials.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-02-25 - Referred to Homeland Security & Public Safety [HB276 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB276-Introduced.html

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87R714 JSC-F
By: Murr H.B. No. 276

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the carrying or possession of a handgun by certain
retired judges and justices and certain other governmental
officials.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.035(h-1), Penal Code, as added by
Chapter 1214 (H.B. 1889), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007, is amended to read as follows:
(h-1) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections (b)
and (c) that the actor, at the time of the commission of the
offense, was:
(1) an active or retired judicial officer, as defined
by Section 411.201, Government Code; [or]
(2) a bailiff designated by an [the] active judicial
officer and engaged in escorting the officer;
(3) a judge or justice of a federal court;
(4) a person who retired after serving as a judge or
justice described by Section 411.201(a)(1)(A), Government Code; or
(5) the attorney general or a United States attorney,
assistant United States attorney, assistant attorney general,
district attorney, assistant district attorney, criminal district
attorney, assistant criminal district attorney, county attorney,
or assistant county attorney.
SECTION 2. Section 46.15(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(a) Sections 46.02 and 46.03 do not apply to:
(1) peace officers or special investigators under
Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, and neither section
prohibits a peace officer or special investigator from carrying a
weapon in this state, including in an establishment in this state
serving the public, regardless of whether the peace officer or
special investigator is engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's or investigator's duties while carrying the weapon;
(2) parole officers, and neither section prohibits an
officer from carrying a weapon in this state if the officer is:
(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
(B) in compliance with policies and procedures
adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the
possession of a weapon by an officer while on duty;
(3) community supervision and corrections department
officers appointed or employed under Section 76.004, Government
Code, and neither section prohibits an officer from carrying a
weapon in this state if the officer is:
(A) engaged in the actual discharge of the
officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
(B) authorized to carry a weapon under Section
76.0051, Government Code;
(4) an active or retired judicial officer as defined
by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is licensed to carry a
handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(5) an honorably retired peace officer or other
qualified retired law enforcement officer, as defined by 18 U.S.C.
Section 926C, who holds a certificate of proficiency issued under
Section 1701.357, Occupations Code, and is carrying a photo
identification that is issued by a federal, state, or local law
enforcement agency, as applicable, and that verifies that the
officer is an honorably retired peace officer or other qualified
retired law enforcement officer;
(6) the attorney general or a United States attorney,
district attorney, criminal district attorney, county attorney, or
municipal attorney who is licensed to carry a handgun under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(7) an assistant United States attorney, assistant
attorney general, assistant district attorney, assistant criminal
district attorney, or assistant county attorney who is licensed to
carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(8) a bailiff designated by an active judicial officer
as defined by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is:
(A) licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter
H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(B) engaged in escorting the judicial officer;
(9) a juvenile probation officer who is authorized to
carry a firearm under Section 142.006, Human Resources Code; [or]
(10) a person who is volunteer emergency services
personnel if the person is:
(A) carrying a handgun under the authority of
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
(B) engaged in providing emergency services; or
(11) a person who:
(A) retired after serving as a judge or justice
described by Section 411.201(a)(1)(A), Government Code; and
(B) is licensed to carry a handgun under
Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
SECTION 3. Section 46.035(h-1), Penal Code, as added by
Chapter 1222 (H.B. 2300), Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2007, is repealed.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 when 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, 2021.