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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to drug testing of a person seeking to obtain or renew a |
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concealed handgun license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 411.172(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A person is eligible for a license to carry a concealed |
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handgun if the person: |
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(1) is a legal resident of this state for the six-month |
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period preceding the date of application under this subchapter or |
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is otherwise eligible for a license under Section 411.173(a); |
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(2) is at least 21 years of age; |
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(3) has not been convicted of a felony; |
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(4) is not charged with the commission of a Class A or |
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Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense, or of an offense under |
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Section 42.01, Penal Code, or equivalent offense, or of a felony |
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under an information or indictment; |
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(5) is not a fugitive from justice for a felony or a |
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Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense; |
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(6) is not a chemically dependent person; |
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(7) is not incapable of exercising sound judgment with |
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respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun; |
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(8) has not, in the five years preceding the date of |
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application, been convicted of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or |
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equivalent offense or of an offense under Section 42.01, Penal |
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Code, or equivalent offense; |
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(9) is fully qualified under applicable federal and |
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state law to purchase a handgun; |
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(10) has not been finally determined to be delinquent |
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in making a child support payment administered or collected by the |
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attorney general; |
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(11) has not been finally determined to be delinquent |
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in the payment of a tax or other money collected by the comptroller, |
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the tax collector of a political subdivision of the state, or any |
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agency or subdivision of the state; |
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(12) is not currently restricted under a court |
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protective order or subject to a restraining order affecting the |
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spousal relationship, other than a restraining order solely |
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affecting property interests; |
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(13) has not, in the 10 years preceding the date of |
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application, been adjudicated as having engaged in delinquent |
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conduct violating a penal law of the grade of felony; [and] |
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(14) has not made any material misrepresentation, or |
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failed to disclose any material fact, in an application submitted |
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pursuant to Section 411.174; and |
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(15) is not ineligible for the license based on a drug |
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test under Section 411.1721. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.1721 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.1721. DRUG TESTING AND ELIGIBILITY. (a) In this |
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section, "controlled substance" has the meaning assigned by Chapter |
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481, Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) In addition to complying with the requirements of |
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Section 411.174 or 411.185, an applicant for the issuance or |
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renewal of a license to carry a concealed handgun must submit to a |
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drug test at the applicant's expense to establish the applicant's |
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eligibility for the license. The applicant must have the drug test |
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results submitted directly to the department. |
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(c) A person whose drug test conducted under this section |
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indicates the presence in the person's body of a controlled |
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substance not prescribed for the person by a health care |
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practitioner is ineligible for a license to carry a concealed |
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handgun until the first anniversary of the date the results of the |
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person's drug test were submitted to the department under this |
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section. A person who is determined to be ineligible under this |
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section may not apply for the issuance of a new license to carry a |
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concealed handgun until the person completes an educational |
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program, approved by the department, that is designed to educate a |
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person on the dangers of drug abuse. |
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(d) Before revoking or denying a license to carry a |
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concealed handgun under this section, the department must: |
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(1) notify the person of the results of the drug test |
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and the department's proposed determination of ineligibility; |
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(2) confirm the results of the drug test through a |
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second drug test or other appropriate method; and |
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(3) provide the person with an opportunity for a |
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public hearing concerning the results of the drug test. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an application to obtain or renew a license to carry a concealed |
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handgun submitted on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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application submitted before the effective date of this Act is |
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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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |