85R8031 JSC-D
 
  By: Phillips H.B. No. 2066
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the requirements for certain applicants to obtain an
  original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a
  handgun; waiving fees.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 411.1991, Government
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.1991.  PEACE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY
  FORCES.
         SECTION 2.  Section 411.1991, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (b-1) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The department may issue a license under this subchapter
  to an applicant under this section if the applicant complies with
  Subsection (a-1) or rules adopted under Subsection (a-2), as
  applicable, and meets all other requirements of this subchapter,
  except that the applicant is not required to complete the handgun
  proficiency course described by Section 411.188.
         (b-1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
  subchapter, the department shall waive any fee required for the
  issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license
  under this subchapter for an applicant under this section.
         (d)  A license issued to an applicant under this section
  expires as provided by Section 411.183.
         SECTION 3.  Section 411.1951, Government Code, is
  redesignated as Section 411.1994, Government Code, and amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 411.1994  [411.1951].  CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICE [WAIVER
  OR REDUCTION OF FEES FOR] MEMBERS AND [OR] VETERANS [OF UNITED
  STATES ARMED FORCES].  (a)  In this section, "veteran" means a
  person who:
               (1)  has served in:
                     (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or
  marine corps of the United States;
                     (B)  the Texas military forces as defined by
  Section 437.001; or
                     (C)  an auxiliary service of one of those branches
  of the armed forces; and
               (2)  has been honorably discharged from the branch of
  the service in which the person served.
         (b)  This section applies only to an [Notwithstanding any
  other provision of this subchapter, the department shall waive any
  fee required for the issuance of an original, duplicate, modified,
  or renewed license under this subchapter if the] applicant for a
  [the] license under this subchapter who is:
               (1)  a member of the United States armed forces,
  including a member of the reserves, national guard, or state guard;
  or
               (2)  a veteran [who, within 365 days preceding the date
  of the application, was honorably discharged from the branch of
  service in which the person served].
         (c)  The department may issue a license under this subchapter
  to an applicant under this section if the applicant meets all
  requirements of this subchapter, except that the applicant is not
  required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by
  Section 411.188.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
  the department shall waive any fee required for the issuance of an
  original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license under this
  subchapter for an applicant under this section.
         (e)  A license issued to an applicant under this section
  expires as provided by Section 411.183 [Notwithstanding any other
  provision of this subchapter, if the applicant is a veteran who,
  more than 365 days preceding the date of the application, was
  honorably discharged from the branch of the service in which the
  applicant served:
               [(1)     the applicant must pay a fee of $25 for the
  issuance of an original or renewed license under this subchapter;
  and
               [(2)     the department shall reduce by 50 percent any fee
  required of the applicant for a duplicate or modified license under
  this subchapter].
         SECTION 4.  Sections 411.1881 and 411.1991(c), Government
  Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an application that is made to obtain an original, duplicate,
  modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun and submitted on or
  after the effective date of this Act. An application described by
  this section that is submitted before the effective date of this Act
  is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.