
New
Legislation for Concealed Handgun Licensing (CHL) program The information provided
below is a brief summary of CHL related bills passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature.
House Bill 48 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption: Relating
to the procedure under which a person may renew a license to carry a concealed
handgun. - Eliminates the requirements
for CHL holders to complete a renewal course, or demonstrate proficiency, in order
to renew the license.
- CHL holders will continue
to have an option to submit the renewal application online.
House
Bill 333 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption Text: Relating to requiring notice
of a hotel’s firearms policy. Requires hotels to clearly state their firearms
policy on their website and in written guest policies. House
Bill 485 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption: Relating to the amount of the fee
paid by certain peace officers and veterans of the United States Armed Forces
for a license to carry a concealed handgun. Reduces the fee to $25 for certain
peace officers. Full time peace officer’s already pay a reduced fee. This bill
expands the criteria by removing the requirement for the officer to be full time.
Peace officers who wish to pay the reduced fee must be employed by a law enforcement
agency. Reduces the fee for both an original and renewal for veterans from $70
and $35 respectively, to $25. Authorizes a reduced fee of $25 for Correctional
Officers employed by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ). This new
law authorizes a fee reduction only. The TDCJ officers may apply online under
the special condition of “active peace officer”; but will be required to complete
the required four (4) to six (6) hour CHL course. Additionally, these applicants
must provide proof of current employment with TDCJ. A new fee schedule is located
on the Department’s website. House Bill 698 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption Text:
Relating to the use of digital or electronic fingerprinting for an application
for a license to carry a concealed handgun. Directs the Department to establish
a procedure for submission of fingerprints for Concealed Handgun License applicants
who reside in a county with a population of 46,000 or less and does not reside
within a 25-mile radius of a facility capable of processing the electronic fingerprints.
More information regarding eligibility and detailed instructions are located on
the RSD webpage. House Bill 1009 Effective: Immediately Caption Text: Relating
to the creation of a new category of law enforcement officer who shall be designated
as a school marshal. This bill is known as the “Protection of Children Act”. The
Texas Commission on Law Enforcement is the primary Agency responsible for implementation.
House Bill 1349 Effective: Jan. 1, 2014 Caption Text: Relating to the information
that may be requested by DPS from a person applying for or renewing a concealed
handgun license. Concealed Handgun License applicants will no longer be required
to provide a Social Security Number as part of the application process. Changes
to the online application and forms are in progress. House Bill 3142 Effective:
Immediately Caption: Relating to handguns used to demonstrate proficiency in handgun
use for purposes of obtaining a concealed handgun license. The category of the
handgun used for proficiency demonstration is no longer required, regardless of
whether a semi-auto handgun or a revolver was used for proficiency demonstration.
At this time, all Concealed Handgun Licenses will reflect “SA” as the category.
Changes to the laminated license are being developed and will be implemented at
a later date. House Bill 3370 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption Text: Relating
to the authority of certain retired peace officers to carry certain firearms.
This bill expands the criteria for certain retired peace officers to obtain a
Concealed Handgun License including a discounted fee. Applicants will need to
provide a sworn statement from the head of the law enforcement agency where the
applicant last served. The statement must meet the requirements set forth in Government
Code 411.1992(b). Senate Bill 164 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption: Relating to
the issuance of veterans of specially marked licenses to carry a concealed handgun
and specially marked personal identification certificates. Authorizes the Department
to print “Veteran” on the laminated Concealed Handgun License. Changes to the
laminated license are being developed to allow for the “Veteran” designation and
are expected to be available as an option in the near future. Senate Bill 299
Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption Text: Relating to the unintentional display of
a weapon by a person licensed to carry a concealed handgun. This bill amends the
Penal code by changing language from “fail to conceal” to “unintentional display”.
Senate Bill 864 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption: Relating to handgun proficiency
course that is taken to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license. Reduces the
amount of time for the classroom training for the CHL course to a minimum of four
(4) hours and a maximum of six (6) hours. The amount of time spent for proficiency
demonstration will no longer be included in classroom training. Students must
still attend the classroom instruction in person. The course material must still
cover the same four topics. Detailed information for Concealed Handgun License
Instructors including a course outline, new student test and updated forms is
located on the RSD webpage. Senate Bill 1857 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption:
Relating to the training of certain qualified handgun instructors to conduct school
safety training. The Department is currently developing rules and procedures to
implement this bill. More information will be posted on the Department’s website
as it becomes available. Senate Bill 1907 Effective: Sept. 1, 2013 Caption Text:
Relating to the transportation and storage of concealed handguns and ammunition
by license holders in vehicles on the campuses of institutions of higher education.
Prohibits a place of higher education (such as a college) from prohibiting a student
from storing a handgun and/or ammunition in a vehicle on campus. |