85R11313 JSC-D
 
  By: Uresti H.B. No. 2712
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a firearm buyback program administered by certain local
  law enforcement agencies.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle C, Title 11, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 364 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 364. LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY FIREARM BUYBACK PROGRAMS
         Sec. 364.001.  DEFINITION.  In this chapter, "local law
  enforcement agency" means a municipal police department or
  sheriff's department.
         Sec. 364.002.  FIREARM BUYBACK PROGRAM. A firearm buyback
  program is a program under which a local law enforcement agency
  seeks to reduce violence or crime in the community by offering a
  payment as an incentive for each firearm surrendered to the agency.
         Sec. 364.003.  SURRENDER OF FIREARM. (a)  A person may
  surrender a firearm to any local law enforcement agency in this
  state.
         (b)  A person who surrenders a firearm under this section is
  not subject to prosecution for the possession of the firearm.
         Sec. 364.004.  MONETARY INCENTIVES. A local law enforcement
  agency shall pay $100 to the surrendering person for each firearm
  surrendered under this chapter.
         Sec. 364.005.  RETENTION AND RETURN OF FIREARM. (a)  A local
  law enforcement agency that receives a firearm surrendered under
  this chapter may not dispose of the firearm under Section 364.006
  before the 30th day after the date the firearm is surrendered.
         (b)  The local law enforcement agency shall return the
  firearm to the owner of the firearm if the owner:
               (1)  shows documentation that the owner lawfully owns
  the firearm;
               (2)  attests that the owner did not authorize the
  surrender of the firearm; and
               (3)  remits to the agency reimbursement for the $100
  paid to the person who surrendered the firearm.
         Sec. 364.006.  DISPOSITION OF SURRENDERED FIREARMS. (a)  A
  local law enforcement agency may retain a surrendered firearm as
  evidence of an offense other than possession of a firearm.
         (b)  If a firearm is surrendered under this chapter and not
  retained as evidence, the local law enforcement agency shall
  destroy the firearm.
         Sec. 364.007.  REIMBURSEMENT BY COMPTROLLER. (a)  A local
  law enforcement agency may monthly submit to the comptroller of
  public accounts an invoice for amounts paid for firearms
  surrendered under the firearm buyback program on a form adopted by
  the comptroller.
         (b)  Not later than the fifth working day after the date the
  comptroller receives the invoice, the comptroller shall reimburse
  the local law enforcement agency.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.