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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirements for certain applicants to obtain an |
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original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a |
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handgun; waiving fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Section 411.1991, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.1991. PEACE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY |
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FORCES. |
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SECTION 2. Section 411.1991, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The department may issue a license under this subchapter |
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to an applicant under this section if the applicant complies with |
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Subsection (a-1) or rules adopted under Subsection (a-2), as |
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applicable, and meets all other requirements of this subchapter, |
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except that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun |
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proficiency course described by Section 411.188. |
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(b-1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this |
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subchapter, the department shall waive any fee required for the |
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issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license |
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under this subchapter for an applicant under this section. |
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(d) A license issued to an applicant under this section |
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expires as provided by Section 411.183. |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.1951, Government Code, is |
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redesignated as Section 411.1994, Government Code, and amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.1994 [411.1951]. CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICE [WAIVER
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OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR] MEMBERS AND [OR] VETERANS [OF UNITED
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STATES ARMED FORCES]. (a) In this section, "veteran" means a |
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person who: |
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(1) has served in: |
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(A) the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or |
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marine corps of the United States; |
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(B) the Texas military forces as defined by |
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Section 437.001; or |
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(C) an auxiliary service of one of those branches |
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of the armed forces; and |
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(2) has been honorably discharged from the branch of |
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the service in which the person served. |
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(b) This section applies only to an [Notwithstanding any
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other provision of this subchapter, the department shall waive any
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fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified,
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or renewed license under this subchapter if the] applicant for a |
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[the] license under this subchapter who is: |
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(1) a member of the United States armed forces, |
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including a member of the reserves, national guard, or state guard; |
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or |
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(2) a veteran [who, within 365 days preceding the date
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of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of
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service in which the person served]. |
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(c) The department may issue a license under this subchapter |
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to an applicant under this section if the applicant meets all |
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requirements of this subchapter, except that the applicant is not |
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required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by |
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Section 411.188. |
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(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter, |
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the department shall waive any fee required for the issuance of an |
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original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this |
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subchapter for an applicant under this section. |
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(e) A license issued to an applicant under this section |
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expires as provided by Section 411.183 [Notwithstanding any other
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provision of this subchapter, if the applicant is a veteran who,
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more than 365 days preceding the date of the application, was
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honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the
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applicant served:
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[(1)
the applicant must pay a fee of $25 for the
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issuance of an original or renewed license under this subchapter;
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and
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[(2)
the department shall reduce by 50 percent any fee
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required of the applicant for a duplicate or modified license under
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this subchapter]. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 411.1881 and 411.1991(c), Government |
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Code, are repealed. |
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SECTION 5. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application that is made to obtain an original, duplicate, |
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modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun and submitted on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. An application described by |
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this section that is submitted before the effective date of this Act |
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is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |