Bill Text: TX HB4526 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the application requirements for a license to carry a handgun.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-22 - Referred to Community Safety, Select [HB4526 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4526-Introduced.html
88R12776 JSC-F | ||
By: Slaton | H.B. No. 4526 |
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relating to the application requirements for a license to carry a | ||
handgun. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 411.174(a), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(a) An applicant for a license to carry a handgun must | ||
submit to the director's designee described by Section 411.176: | ||
(1) a completed application on a form provided by the | ||
department that requires only the information listed in Subsection | ||
(b); | ||
(2) one or more photographs of the applicant that meet | ||
the requirements of the department; | ||
(3) a certified copy of the applicant's birth | ||
certificate or certified proof of age; | ||
(4) proof of residency in this state; | ||
(5) [ |
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[ |
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$40 paid to the department; | ||
(6) [ |
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and manner required by the department; | ||
(7) [ |
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that the applicant: | ||
(A) has read and understands each provision of | ||
this subchapter that creates an offense under the laws of this state | ||
and each provision of the laws of this state related to use of | ||
deadly force; and | ||
(B) fulfills all the eligibility requirements | ||
listed under Section 411.172; and | ||
(8) [ |
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authorizes the director to make an inquiry into any noncriminal | ||
history records that are necessary to determine the applicant's | ||
eligibility for a license under Section 411.172(a). | ||
SECTION 2. Section 411.176(b), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) The director's designee as needed shall conduct an | ||
additional criminal history record check of the applicant and an | ||
investigation of the applicant's local official records to verify | ||
the accuracy of the application materials. The director's designee | ||
may access any records necessary for purposes of this subsection. | ||
The scope of the record check and the investigation are at the sole | ||
discretion of the department, except that the director's designee | ||
shall complete the record check and investigation not later than | ||
the 60th day after the date the department receives the application | ||
materials. The department shall contact [ |
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criminal history check of the applicant. On completion of the | ||
investigation, the director's designee shall return all materials | ||
and the result of the investigation to the appropriate division of | ||
the department at its Austin headquarters. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 411.199(b), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) The person shall submit [ |
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of the law enforcement agency that employed the applicant or other | ||
former employer of the applicant, as applicable. A head of a law | ||
enforcement agency or other former employer may not refuse to issue | ||
a statement under this subsection. If the applicant alleges that | ||
the statement is untrue, the department shall investigate the | ||
validity of the statement. The statement must include: | ||
(1) the name and rank of the applicant; | ||
(2) the status of the applicant before retirement; | ||
(3) whether the applicant was accused of misconduct at | ||
the time of the retirement; | ||
(4) the physical and mental condition of the | ||
applicant; | ||
(5) the type of weapons the applicant had demonstrated | ||
proficiency with during the last year of employment; | ||
(6) whether the applicant would be eligible for | ||
reemployment with the agency or employer, and if not, the reasons | ||
the applicant is not eligible; | ||
(7) a recommendation from the agency head or the | ||
employer regarding the issuance of a license under this subchapter; | ||
and | ||
(8) whether the applicant holds a current certificate | ||
of proficiency under Section 1701.357, Occupations Code. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 411.1992(b), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(b) The applicant shall submit to the department [ |
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statement from the head of the law enforcement agency at which the | ||
applicant last served as a reserve law enforcement officer. A head | ||
of a law enforcement agency may not refuse to issue a statement | ||
under this subsection. If the applicant alleges that the statement | ||
is untrue, the department shall investigate the validity of the | ||
statement. The statement must include: | ||
(1) the name and rank of the applicant; | ||
(2) the status of the applicant; | ||
(3) whether the applicant was accused of misconduct at | ||
any time during the applicant's term of service and the disposition | ||
of that accusation; | ||
(4) a description of the physical and mental condition | ||
of the applicant; | ||
(5) a list of the types of weapons the applicant | ||
demonstrated proficiency with during the applicant's term of | ||
service; and | ||
(6) a recommendation from the agency head regarding | ||
the issuance of a license under this subchapter. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 411.201(d), Government Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(d) An applicant for a license who is an active or retired | ||
judicial officer must submit to the department: | ||
(1) a completed application, including all required | ||
affidavits, on a form prescribed by the department; | ||
(2) one or more photographs of the applicant that meet | ||
the requirements of the department; | ||
(3) [ |
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[ |
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manner required by the department for an applicant under this | ||
section; | ||
(4) [ |
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of $25; and | ||
(5) [ |
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officer, a form executed by the applicant that authorizes the | ||
department to make an inquiry into any noncriminal history records | ||
that are necessary to determine the applicant's eligibility for a | ||
license under this subchapter. | ||
SECTION 6. Section 118.0217(a), Local Government Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The fee for a "mental health background check for | ||
license to carry a handgun" is for a check, conducted by the county | ||
clerk at the request of the Texas Department of Public Safety, of | ||
the county records involving the mental condition of a person who | ||
applies for a license to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter | ||
411, Government Code. The fee, not to exceed $2, will be paid from | ||
the application fee submitted to the Department of Public Safety | ||
according to Section 411.174(a)(5) [ |
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Code. | ||
SECTION 7. Section 411.175, Government Code, is repealed. | ||
SECTION 8. The change in law made by this Act applies only | ||
to an applicant for a license to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, | ||
Chapter 411, Government Code, as amended by this Act, who submits | ||
the application for the license on or after the effective date of | ||
this Act. | ||
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |