Bill Text: TX SB354 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of and certain other locations associated with institutions of higher education.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 17-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-20 - Record vote [SB354 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-SB354-Introduced.html

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82R320 SJM-D
By: Wentworth, et al. S.B. No. 354

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of
institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.2031 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.2031. CARRYING OF HANDGUNS BY LICENSE HOLDERS ON
CERTAIN CAMPUSES. (a) For purposes of this section, "institution
of higher education" and "private or independent institution of
higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003,
Education Code.
(b) A license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or
about the license holder's person while the license holder is on the
campus of an institution of higher education or private or
independent institution of higher education in this state.
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an institution of
higher education or private or independent institution of higher
education in this state may not adopt any rule, regulation, or other
provision prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns on the
campus of the institution.
(d) An institution of higher education or private or
independent institution of higher education in this state may
establish rules, regulations, or other provisions concerning the
storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential buildings
that are owned or operated by the institution and located on the
campus of the institution.
(e) A private or independent institution of higher
education in this state, after consulting with students, staff, and
faculty of the institution, may establish rules, regulations, or
other provisions prohibiting license holders from carrying
handguns on premises that are owned or operated by the institution
and located on the campus of the institution. For purposes of this
subsection, "premises" has the meaning assigned by Section 46.035,
Penal Code.
SECTION 2. Section 411.208, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to
read as follows:
(a) A court may not hold the state, an agency or subdivision
of the state, an officer or employee of the state, an institution of
higher education or a private or independent institution of higher
education, an officer or employee of an institution of higher
education or a private or independent institution of higher
education, a peace officer, or a qualified handgun instructor
liable for damages caused by:
(1) an action authorized under this subchapter or a
failure to perform a duty imposed by this subchapter; or
(2) the actions of an applicant or license holder that
occur after the applicant has received a license or been denied a
license under this subchapter.
(b) A cause of action in damages may not be brought against
the state, an agency or subdivision of the state, an officer or
employee of the state, an institution of higher education or a
private or independent institution of higher education, an officer
or employee of an institution of higher education or a private or
independent institution of higher education, a peace officer, or a
qualified handgun instructor for any damage caused by the actions
of an applicant or license holder under this subchapter.
(d) The immunities granted under Subsections (a), (b), and
(c) do not apply to an act or a failure to act by the state, an
agency or subdivision of the state, an officer of the state, an
institution of higher education or a private or independent
institution of higher education, an officer or employee of an
institution of higher education or a private or independent
institution of higher education, or a peace officer if the act or
failure to act was capricious or arbitrary.
(f) For purposes of this section, "institution of higher
education" and "private or independent institution of higher
education" have the meanings assigned by Section 411.2031.
SECTION 3. Sections 46.03(a) and (c), Penal Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally,
knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal
knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or
educational institution, any grounds or building on which an
activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being
conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or
educational institution, whether the school or educational
institution is public or private, unless:
(A) pursuant to written regulations or written
authorization of the institution; or
(B) the person possesses or goes on the physical
premises of an institution of higher education or private or
independent institution of higher education, or on any grounds or
building on which an activity sponsored by the institution is being
conducted, with a concealed handgun that the person is licensed to
carry under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
(2) on the premises of a polling place on the day of an
election or while early voting is in progress;
(3) on the premises of any government court or offices
utilized by the court, unless pursuant to written regulations or
written authorization of the court;
(4) on the premises of a racetrack;
(5) in or into a secured area of an airport; or
(6) within 1,000 feet of premises the location of
which is designated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a
place of execution under Article 43.19, Code of Criminal Procedure,
on a day that a sentence of death is set to be imposed on the
designated premises and the person received notice that:
(A) going within 1,000 feet of the premises with
a weapon listed under this subsection was prohibited; or
(B) possessing a weapon listed under this
subsection within 1,000 feet of the premises was prohibited.
(c) In this section:
(1) "Institution of higher education" and "private or
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.
(2) [(1)] "Premises" has the meaning assigned by
Section 46.035.
(3) [(2)] "Secured area" means an area of an airport
terminal building to which access is controlled by the inspection
of persons and property under federal law.
SECTION 4. Section 46.035, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (l) to read as follows:
(l) Subsection (b)(2) does not apply on the premises where a
collegiate sporting event is taking place if the actor was not given
effective notice under Section 30.06.
SECTION 5. Section 46.11(c)(1), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(1) "Premises" has the meaning ["Institution of higher
education" and "premises" have the meanings] assigned by Section
481.134, Health and Safety Code.
SECTION 6. Section 411.208, Government Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a cause of action that accrues on or after
September 1, 2012. A cause of action that accrued before that date
is governed by the law in effect immediately before that date, and
that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 7. Sections 46.03(a) and (c), Penal Code, as
amended by this Act, and Section 46.035(l), Penal Code, as added by
this Act, apply only to an offense committed on or after September
1, 2012. An offense committed before September 1, 2012, is governed
by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former
law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this
section, an offense was committed before September 1, 2012, if any
element of the offense occurred before that date.
SECTION 8. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.