S.B. No. 16

	AN ACT
	relating to decreasing the fee for the issuance of an original or
	renewed 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)  two complete sets of legible and classifiable
	fingerprints of the applicant taken by a person appropriately
	trained in recording fingerprints who is employed by a law
	enforcement agency or by a private entity designated by a law
	enforcement agency as an entity qualified to take fingerprints of
	an applicant for a license under this subchapter;
	(6)  a nonrefundable application and license fee of $40
	[$140] paid to the department;
	(7)  evidence of handgun proficiency, in the form and
	manner required by the department;
	(8)  an affidavit signed by the applicant stating 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
	(9)  a form executed by the applicant that 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.  Sections 411.185(a) and (b), Government Code,
	are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  To renew a license, a license holder must, on or before
	the date the license expires, submit to the department by mail or,
	in accordance with the procedure adopted under Subsection (f), on
	the Internet:
	(1)  a renewal application on a form provided by the
	department;
	(2)  payment of a nonrefundable renewal fee of $40 [as
	set by the department]; and
	(3)  the informational form described by Subsection (c)
	signed or electronically acknowledged by the applicant.
	(b)  The director by rule shall adopt a renewal application
	form requiring an update of the information on the original
	completed application.  [The director by rule shall set the renewal
	fee in an amount that is sufficient to cover the actual cost to the
	department to:
	[(1)     verify the information contained in the renewal
	application form;
	[(2)     conduct any necessary investigation concerning
	the license holder's continued eligibility to hold a license; and
	[(3)  issue the renewed license.]
	SECTION 3.  Section 411.190(c), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  In the manner applicable to a person who applies for a
	license to carry a handgun, the department shall conduct a
	background check of a person who applies for certification as a
	qualified handgun instructor. If the background check indicates
	that the applicant for certification would not qualify to receive a
	handgun license, the department may not certify the applicant as a
	qualified handgun instructor. If the background check indicates
	that the applicant for certification would qualify to receive a
	handgun license, the department shall provide handgun instructor
	training to the applicant. The applicant shall pay a fee of $100 to
	the department for the training. The applicant must take and
	successfully complete the training offered by the department and
	pay the training fee before the department may certify the
	applicant as a qualified handgun instructor. The department shall
	issue a license to carry a handgun under the authority of this
	subchapter to any person who is certified as a qualified handgun
	instructor and who pays to the department a fee of $40 [$100] in
	addition to the training fee. The department by rule may prorate or
	waive the training fee for an employee of another governmental
	entity.
	SECTION 4.  The heading to Section 411.194, Government Code,
	is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.194.  REDUCTION OF CERTAIN FEES DUE TO INDIGENCY.
	SECTION 5.  Section 411.194(a), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
	if the department determines that an applicant is indigent, the
	department shall reduce by:
	(1)  50 percent any fee required for the issuance of a
	[an original,] duplicate or[,] modified[, or renewed] license under
	this subchapter; and
	(2)  $5 any fee required for the issuance of a renewed
	license under this subchapter [if the department determines that
	the applicant is indigent].
	SECTION 6.  Section 411.195, Government Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	Sec. 411.195.  REDUCTION OF CERTAIN FEES FOR SENIOR
	CITIZENS. Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
	if an applicant for the license is 60 years of age or older, the
	department shall reduce by:
	(1)  50 percent any fee required for the issuance of a
	[an original,] duplicate or[,] modified[, or renewed] license under
	this subchapter; and
	(2)  $5 any fee required for the issuance of a renewed
	license under this subchapter [if the applicant for the license is
	60 years of age or older].
	SECTION 7.  Section 411.1991(c), Government Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(c)  The department shall waive any fee required [An
	applicant under this section shall pay a fee of $25] for a license
	issued under this subchapter to an applicant under this section.
	SECTION 8.  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)  two complete sets of legible and classifiable
	fingerprints of the applicant, including one set taken by a person
	employed by a law enforcement agency who is appropriately trained
	in recording fingerprints;
	(4)  evidence of handgun proficiency, in the form and
	manner required by the department for an applicant under this
	section;
	(5)  a nonrefundable application and license fee of $25
	[set by the department in an amount reasonably designed to cover the
	administrative costs associated with issuance of a license to carry
	a handgun under this subchapter]; and
	(6)  if the applicant is a retired judicial 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 9.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an applicant for an original or renewed license to carry a
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, as
	amended by this Act, who submits the application on or after the
	effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 16 passed the Senate on
	March 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 11, 2017, by the
	following vote: Yeas 26, Nays 5.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 16 passed the House, with
	amendment, on May 3, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 129,
	Nays 17, one present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor