85R3210 LHC-D
	By: Simmons	H.B. No. 514

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of certain personal protection officers
	to carry certain weapons.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Sections 46.15(a) and (b), Penal Code, are
	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 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, qualified
	retired law enforcement officer, federal criminal investigator, or
	former reserve law enforcement officer 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:
	(A)  an honorably retired peace officer;
	(B)  a qualified retired law enforcement officer;
	(C)  a federal criminal investigator; or
	(D)  a former reserve law enforcement officer who
	has served in that capacity not less than a total of 15 years with
	one or more state or local law enforcement agencies;
	(6)  a 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 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;
	[or]
	(9)  a juvenile probation officer who is authorized to
	carry a firearm under Section 142.006, Human Resources Code; or
	(10)  a person who acts as a personal protection
	officer and carries the person's security officer commission and
	personal protection officer endorsement, if the person:
	(A)  is engaged in the performance of the person's
	duties as a personal protection officer under Chapter 1702,
	Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the person's place of
	assignment; and
	(B)  is either:
	(i)  wearing the uniform of a security
	officer, including any uniform or apparel described by Section
	1702.323(d), Occupations Code, and carrying the officer's weapon in
	plain view; or
	(ii)  not wearing the uniform of a security
	officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner.
	(b)  Section 46.02 does not apply to a person who:
	(1)  is in the actual discharge of official duties as a
	member of the armed forces or state military forces as defined by
	Section 437.001, Government Code, or as a guard employed by a penal
	institution;
	(2)  is traveling;
	(3)  is engaging in lawful hunting, fishing, or other
	sporting activity on the immediate premises where the activity is
	conducted, or is en route between the premises and the actor's
	residence, motor vehicle, or watercraft, if the weapon is a type
	commonly used in the activity;
	(4)  holds a security officer commission issued by the
	Texas Private Security Board, if the person is engaged in the
	performance of the person's duties as an officer commissioned under
	Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the
	person's place of assignment and is wearing the officer's uniform
	and carrying the officer's weapon in plain view;
	(5)  [acts as a personal protection officer and carries
	the person's security officer commission and personal protection
	officer authorization, if the person:
	[(A)     is engaged in the performance of the
	person's duties as a personal protection officer under Chapter
	1702, Occupations Code, or is traveling to or from the person's
	place of assignment; and
	[(B)  is either:
	[(i)     wearing the uniform of a security
	officer, including any uniform or apparel described by Section
	1702.323(d), Occupations Code, and carrying the officer's weapon in
	plain view; or
	[(ii)     not wearing the uniform of a security
	officer and carrying the officer's weapon in a concealed manner;
	[(6)]  is carrying:
	(A)  a license issued under Subchapter H, Chapter
	411, Government Code, to carry a handgun; and
	(B)  a handgun:
	(i)  in a concealed manner; or
	(ii)  in a shoulder or belt holster;
	(6) [(7)]  holds an alcoholic beverage permit or
	license or is an employee of a holder of an alcoholic beverage
	permit or license if the person is supervising the operation of the
	permitted or licensed premises; or
	(7) [(8)]  is a student in a law enforcement class
	engaging in an activity required as part of the class, if the weapon
	is a type commonly used in the activity and the person is:
	(A)  on the immediate premises where the activity
	is conducted; or
	(B)  en route between those premises and the
	person's residence and is carrying the weapon unloaded.
	SECTION 2.  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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.