Bill Text: TX HB4165 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the possession of a knife, knuckles, or a switchblade knife on the grounds or in the building of a public school; creating a criminal offense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-04-24 - Left pending in committee [HB4165 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB4165-Introduced.html
| 88R14225 TSS-D | ||
| By: Frazier | H.B. No. 4165 | |
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| relating to the possession of a knife, knuckles, or a switchblade | ||
| knife on the grounds or in the building of a public school; creating | ||
| a criminal offense. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 37, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 37.127 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 37.127. POSSESSION OF CERTAIN WEAPONS ON PUBLIC SCHOOL | ||
| GROUNDS. (a) In this section: | ||
| (1) "Knife" means any bladed hand instrument that is | ||
| capable of inflicting serious bodily injury or death by cutting or | ||
| stabbing a person with the instrument. | ||
| (2) "Knuckles" means any instrument that consists of | ||
| finger rings or guards made of a hard substance and that is | ||
| designed, made, or adapted for the purpose of inflicting serious | ||
| bodily injury or death by striking a person with a fist enclosed in | ||
| the knuckles. | ||
| (3) "Switchblade knife" means any knife that has a | ||
| blade that folds, closes, or retracts into the handle or sheath, and | ||
| that: | ||
| (A) opens automatically by pressure applied to a | ||
| button or other device located on the handle; or | ||
| (B) opens or releases a blade from the handle or | ||
| sheath by the force of gravity or by the application of centrifugal | ||
| force. | ||
| (b) A person commits an offense if the person possesses a | ||
| knife, knuckles, or a switchblade knife while on the grounds or in a | ||
| building of a public school. | ||
| (c) An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor. | ||
| (d) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that | ||
| the actor possessed the knife, knuckles, or switchblade knife in | ||
| the actual discharge of duties as a school district peace officer, | ||
| school resource officer, or school security personnel. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. | ||
