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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring a person who is the subject of a family |
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violence protective order to surrender firearms owned by the |
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person. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 236, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 236.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 236.004. COUNTY TASK FORCES FOR SURRENDER AND RETURN |
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OF FIREARMS DUE TO FAMILY VIOLENCE. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Family violence center" means a public or private |
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nonprofit organization that provides, as its primary purpose, |
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services to victims of family violence, including the services |
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under Section 51.005(b)(3), Human Resources Code. |
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(2) "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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46.01, Penal Code. |
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(3) "Task force" means a task force for the surrender |
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and return of firearms due to family violence, as created by a |
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county under this section. |
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(4) "Victim of family violence" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 51.002, Human Resources Code. |
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(b) Each county commissioners court shall establish a task |
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force for the surrender and return of firearms due to family |
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violence, including the following members if applicable for the |
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county: |
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(1) the chief administrative officer of a family |
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violence center or the chief administrator's designee; |
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(2) the chief of police of the municipality having the |
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largest population in the county or the chief's designee; |
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(3) the sheriff of the county or the sheriff's |
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designee; |
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(4) a judge of a court in the county with jurisdiction |
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over cases involving family violence; and |
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(5) a prosecutor with jurisdiction in the county over |
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cases involving family violence. |
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(c) The county commissioners court shall call the first |
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meeting of the task force at which the members shall elect a |
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presiding officer. All subsequent meetings shall be held at the |
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call of the presiding officer. |
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(d) The presiding officer may appoint additional members to |
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the task force if necessary for the task force to complete its |
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duties under Subsection (g). |
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(e) The task force may consult with individuals or |
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organizations having knowledge and experience in the issues of |
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firearms and family violence. |
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(f) A vacancy for a member of the task force shall be filled |
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immediately and in the same manner as the original appointment. |
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(g) The task force shall develop policy recommendations, |
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model forms, and guidelines for best practices related to the |
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surrender, receipt, storage, return, and disposal of firearms due |
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to an order prohibiting a person from possessing a firearm |
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following a finding of family violence entered by a court or an |
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arrest or charge for an offense involving family violence, |
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including: |
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(1) a protective order issued under Title 4, Family |
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Code, or Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal Procedure; or |
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(2) a magistrate's order of emergency protection |
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issued under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure. |
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(h) In developing the recommendations, forms, and |
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guidelines required under this section, the task force shall: |
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(1) consult with a family violence advocacy |
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organization that provides services throughout the state; |
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(2) prioritize the safety of victims of family |
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violence and law enforcement personnel; |
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(3) ensure due process is provided; |
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(4) provide specific guidance on the surrender, |
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receipt, and storage of a firearm and the return or disposal of a |
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firearm; |
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(5) require proof of compliance with orders requiring |
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the surrender of a firearm; and |
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(6) provide for an enforcement option if compliance is |
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not proven within 48 hours of the issuance of an order requiring |
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surrender of a firearm. |
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(i) The task force shall make available all |
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recommendations, forms, and guidelines developed under this |
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section to all judges with jurisdiction over cases involving family |
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violence in the county and all law enforcement agencies with |
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jurisdiction in the county. |
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(j) The task force shall meet not later than the 90th day |
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following the end of each regular legislative session to review and |
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amend any recommendations, forms, or guidelines developed under |
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this section. |
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(k) Not later than December 1 of each odd-numbered year, the |
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task force shall provide the county commissioners court a report |
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including: |
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(1) a list of task force members; |
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(2) a summary of all recommendations, forms, and |
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guidelines developed under this section; |
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(3) a description of practices and procedures in the |
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courts and law enforcement agencies within the county in regard to |
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the surrender, receipt, storage, return, and disposal of firearms |
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due to family violence; and |
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(4) a description of potential sources of funding |
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available to implement recommendations. |
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(l) The commissioners courts of multiple counties may agree |
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to form a regional task force under this section to serve the needs |
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of all counties in the agreement. |
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SECTION 2. Article 7A.05, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows: |
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(b-2)(1) In an order under Subsection (a)(2)(D), if the |
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applicant's relationship to or association with the alleged |
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offender is described by Section 71.0021(b), 71.003, or 71.005, |
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Family Code, the court may also order the alleged offender to |
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surrender all firearms owned by the offender. |
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(2) Any order entered under this subsection must: |
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(A) provide notice to the alleged offender; |
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(B) provide for the receipt and storage of and |
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for the return or disposal of a surrendered firearm; and |
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(C) require proof of compliance. |
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(3) When entering an order under this subsection, the |
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court may adopt a recommendation, model form, or guideline |
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developed by a task force under Section 236.004, Local Government |
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Code, for the county in which the court is located. |
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SECTION 3. Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended by adding Subsection (l-1) to read as follows: |
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(l-1)(1) If an order for emergency protection issued under |
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this article prohibits the defendant from possessing a firearm and |
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if the defendant was arrested for an offense involving family |
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violence, the magistrate may also order the defendant to surrender |
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all firearms owned by the defendant. |
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(2) Any order entered under this subsection must: |
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(A) provide notice to the defendant; |
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(B) provide for the receipt and storage of and |
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for the return or disposal of a surrendered firearm; and |
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(C) require proof of compliance. |
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(3) When entering an order under this subsection, the |
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magistrate may adopt a recommendation, model form, or guideline |
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developed by a task force under Section 236.004, Local Government |
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Code, for the county in which the court is located. |
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SECTION 4. Section 85.022, Family Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2) to read as follows: |
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(c-1) In an order under Subsection (b)(6), the court may |
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also order the person to surrender all firearms owned by the person. |
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Any order entered under this subsection must: |
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(1) provide notice to the person; |
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(2) provide for the receipt and storage of and for the |
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return or disposal of a surrendered firearm; and |
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(3) require proof of compliance. |
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(c-2) When entering an order under Subsection (c-1), the |
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court may adopt a recommendation, model form, or guideline |
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developed by a task force under Section 236.004, Local Government |
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Code, for the county in which the court is located. |
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SECTION 5. Notwithstanding the requirement in Section |
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236.004, Local Government Code, as added by this Act, that a report |
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be submitted by December 1 of each odd-numbered year, a task force |
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created under that section shall submit its first report to the |
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county commissioners court not later than June 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 6. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a protective order or magistrate's order of emergency protection |
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entered on or after the effective date of this Act. A protective |
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order or magistrate's order of emergency protection entered before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
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the date the order was entered, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |