88R4062 EAS-D
 
  By: Johnson S.B. No. 906
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Do-Not-Sell Registry for
  firearms; creating a criminal offense.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter H-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H-1. TEXAS DO-NOT-SELL REGISTRY
         Sec. 411.221.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Firearm" has the meaning assigned by Section
  46.01, Penal Code.
               (2)  "Registry" means the Texas Do-Not-Sell Registry
  established under this subchapter.
         Sec. 411.222.  REGISTRY OF INDIVIDUALS WAIVING RIGHT TO
  PURCHASE OR RECEIVE TRANSFER OF FIREARM. (a)  The department shall
  establish and maintain a secure electronic registry to collect and
  store information regarding individuals who have voluntarily
  waived the right to purchase or receive transfer of a firearm under
  Section 411.223.
         (b)  To be eligible to have the individual's waiver
  information included in the registry, an individual must be:
               (1)  a resident of this state;
               (2)  at least 18 years of age; and
               (3)  not otherwise prohibited by state or federal law
  from possessing a firearm.
         Sec. 411.223.  WAIVER OF RIGHT TO PURCHASE OR RECEIVE
  TRANSFER OF FIREARM. (a)  An individual may submit to the
  department, on a form prescribed by the department, a waiver of the
  individual's right to purchase or receive transfer of a firearm.
  The individual may submit the waiver form to the department either
  in person or by mail and must include with the form any supplemental
  materials required by the department under Subsection (c) to ensure
  accuracy of information on the form.
         (b)  The waiver form must require the individual to provide
  information sufficient to enable the department to:
               (1)  verify the individual's identity; and
               (2)  submit the information to the Federal Bureau of
  Investigation for use with the National Instant Criminal Background
  Check System.
         (c)  The department by rule shall require an individual to
  submit a copy of the individual's government-issued photo
  identification with the waiver form and may require any other
  supplemental materials to ensure accuracy of information on the
  form. The waiver form must include instructions on which
  supplemental materials should accompany the waiver form, if any.
         (d)  In addition to other requirements specified by
  department rule, the waiver form must contain the following
  prominently displayed statement:
         "BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED THIS WAIVER, YOUR INFORMATION
  WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE NATIONAL INSTANT CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK
  SYSTEM WHICH WILL PREVENT YOU FROM PURCHASING OR RECEIVING TRANSFER
  OF ANY FIREARMS WHILE THE WAIVER IS IN EFFECT. YOU MAY VOLUNTARILY
  REVOKE THIS WAIVER AT ANY TIME BY SUBMITTING A REVOCATION FORM TO
  THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY."
         (e)  In submitting the waiver, the individual may provide the
  name and contact information of a third person to be notified if the
  individual revokes the waiver.
         (f)  The fact that an individual has submitted a waiver under
  this section or is listed in the voluntary registry does not in
  itself prohibit the individual from possessing a firearm under
  state law.
         (g)  A waiver under this subchapter is valid only if the
  waiver:
               (1)  is submitted by an individual described by Section
  411.222(b) for the purpose of waiving that individual's right to
  purchase or receive transfer of a firearm;
               (2)  provides all of the information required to be
  included on the waiver form under Subsection (b); and
               (3)  includes any supplemental materials required
  under Subsection (c).
         Sec. 411.224.  ADDITION TO REGISTRY AND NATIONAL INSTANT
  CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM. (a)  As soon as practicable after
  the department receives a waiver form and any accompanying
  materials, the department shall determine whether the waiver is
  valid and meets the requirements of Section 411.223(g).
         (b)  If the department determines that the submitted waiver
  is valid, the department shall:
               (1)  provide the information from the waiver to the
  Federal Bureau of Investigation for use with the National Instant
  Criminal Background Check System; and
               (2)  notify the individual by mail that the
  individual's information has been submitted for inclusion in the
  National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
         (c)  If the department determines that the submitted waiver
  is not valid, the department shall provide to the individual by
  mail, as applicable:
               (1)  notice that there is a deficiency in the waiver
  form or in the supplemental materials submitted with the waiver
  form, which must include instructions that will assist the
  individual in correcting the deficiency; or
               (2)  notice that the individual is not eligible to be
  included on the registry.
         Sec. 411.225.  REVOCATION OF WAIVER; REMOVAL FROM REGISTRY.  
  (a)  An individual who has previously submitted a valid waiver to
  the department and whose information has been included in the
  registry may revoke the waiver under this subchapter in person or by
  mail by submitting a revocation to the department on a form
  prescribed by the department.
         (b)  The revocation form must require the individual to
  provide information sufficient to enable the department to verify
  that the individual submitting the revocation form is the same
  individual who submitted the waiver.
         (c)  As soon as practicable after the department receives a
  revocation form, the department shall determine if the revocation
  is valid.
         (d)  If the department determines that the submitted
  revocation is valid, the department shall notify both the
  individual who submitted the revocation form and the third person
  designated with the submission of the waiver under Section
  411.223(e), if applicable:
               (1)  that the department has received a revocation
  form; and
               (2)  of the date by which the department will provide
  the information from the form to the Federal Bureau of
  Investigation to enable that agency to remove the individual's
  information from the National Instant Criminal Background Check
  System.
         (e)  If the department determines that the submitted
  revocation is not valid, the department shall provide to the
  individual by mail:
               (1)  notice that the revocation is deficient; and
               (2)  instructions that will assist the individual in
  correcting the deficiency.
         (f)  A revocation under this subchapter is valid only if:
               (1)  the individual requesting the revocation submits
  the revocation form as required by the department;
               (2)  the revocation form provides all of the
  information required to be included on the form by the department;
  and
               (3)  the department is able to verify the individual's
  identity through the information provided on the revocation form.
         (g)  Except as provided by Subsection (h), as soon as
  practicable after the date the department receives a valid
  revocation form, the department shall:
               (1)  provide the information from the form to the
  Federal Bureau of Investigation to enable that agency to remove the
  individual's information from the National Instant Criminal
  Background Check System; and
               (2)  remove the individual's information from the
  voluntary registry.
         (h)  The department may not remove information about an
  individual from the voluntary registry, and may not provide that
  individual's information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for
  removal from the National Instant Criminal Background Check System,
  before the 10th day after the date the individual submitted a waiver
  for inclusion in the registry, regardless of whether a revocation
  of the waiver is submitted before the expiration of that period.
         Sec. 411.226.  WAIVERS AND REVOCATIONS BY OTHER INDIVIDUALS
  NOT PERMITTED. (a)  An individual may not submit a waiver or
  revocation form under this subchapter on behalf of another
  individual, regardless of the relationship between the
  individuals.
         (b)  The department may not add or remove an individual's
  information from the registry based on a waiver or revocation form,
  as applicable, that is submitted by another individual.
         Sec. 411.227.  MULTIPLE WAIVERS AND REVOCATIONS PERMITTED.
  An individual may make one or more waivers or revocations of waiver
  under this subchapter, as the individual considers necessary or
  appropriate.
         Sec. 411.228.  AVAILABILITY OF FORMS. The department shall
  make available the waiver form described by Section 411.223 and the
  revocation form described by Section 411.225 on the department's
  Internet website. The Internet website must include clear
  instructions for:
               (1)  completing and submitting a waiver or revocation
  form; and 
               (2)  submitting with the waiver any supplemental
  materials needed to ensure accuracy of information on the waiver
  form. 
         Sec. 411.229.  CONFIDENTIALITY AND DISCLOSURE OF
  INFORMATION. (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b),
  information maintained by the department regarding an individual
  who has voluntarily waived the right to purchase or receive
  transfer of a firearm under this subchapter:
               (1)  is confidential and not subject to disclosure
  under Chapter 552; and 
               (2)  may only be disclosed to: 
                     (A)  a law enforcement officer in connection with
  a prospective transfer of a firearm; or
                     (B)  the individual who is the subject of the
  information in the form.
         (b)  The department may release anonymized statistics
  regarding:
               (1)  the number of individuals who submitted waivers
  under Section 411.223 for inclusion on the registry;
               (2)  the number of individuals who submitted
  revocations under Section 411.225 for removal of their information
  from the registry; and
               (3)  the number of individuals whose information is
  currently included in the registry.
         Sec. 411.230.  OFFENSE: SUBMITTING INFORMATION ON BEHALF OF
  ANOTHER.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
  submits to the department:
               (1)  a waiver under Section 411.223 to add the
  information of another individual to the registry; or
               (2)  a revocation under Section 411.225 to remove the
  information of another individual from the registry.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 411.231.  OFFENSE: DISCRIMINATION.  (a)  A person
  commits an offense if the person for any reason discriminates
  against an individual with respect to employment, housing,
  education, public benefits, insurance, or any other benefit or
  service because of the individual's perceived status as:
               (1)  a person listed in the registry; or
               (2)  a person not listed in the registry.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 411.232.  OFFENSE: REQUIRING REGISTRATION OR
  REVOCATION OF REGISTRATION.  (a)  A person commits an offense if the
  person requires, as a condition for employment, housing, education,
  public benefits, insurance, or any other benefit or service, the
  individual to disclose or modify the individual's status as:
               (1)  a person listed in the registry; or
               (2)  a person not listed in the registry.
         (b)  An offense under this section is a Class A misdemeanor.
         Sec. 411.233.  CONSIDERATION IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
  PROHIBITED. A court may not consider a waiver or revocation under
  this subchapter as evidence in any legal proceeding other than in
  the prosecution of an offense under Section 46.06(a)(8), Penal
  Code, or an offense under this subchapter.
         Sec. 411.234.  RULES. (a)  The director shall adopt rules to
  establish and maintain the secure electronic registry, including
  rules prescribing the forms necessary for submission or revocation
  of a waiver described by this subchapter.  The rules may not
  establish any eligibility requirements to submit a waiver or
  revocation form other than the requirements under this subchapter. 
         (b)  The department by rule shall establish procedures that
  will enable the department to provide information from a waiver
  form under Section 411.223 or a revocation form under Section
  411.225 to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for use with the
  National Instant Criminal Background Check System. 
         (c)  The department by rule shall establish a procedure to
  correct department records as necessary to accurately reflect an
  individual's waiver status and a procedure to transmit the
  corrected records to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.9194(a), Education Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  A general academic teaching institution shall provide
  to each entering full-time undergraduate, graduate, or
  professional student, including each full-time undergraduate,
  graduate, or professional student who transfers to the institution,
  information about:
               (1)  available mental health and suicide prevention
  services offered by the institution or by any associated
  organizations or programs; [and]
               (2)  an individual's ability to voluntarily waive the
  right to purchase or receive transfer of a firearm through the
  registry established under Subchapter H-1, Chapter 411, Government
  Code; and
               (3)  early warning signs that are often present in and
  appropriate intervention for a person who may be considering
  suicide.
         SECTION 3.  Section 1001.072, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1001.072.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES OF DEPARTMENT
  RELATED TO MENTAL HEALTH. The department is responsible for
  administering human services programs regarding mental health,
  including:
               (1)  administering and coordinating mental health
  services at the local and state level;
               (2)  operating the state's mental health facilities;
  [and]
               (3)  incorporating an individual's ability to
  voluntarily waive the right to purchase or receive transfer of a
  firearm under Subchapter H-1, Chapter 411, Government Code, into
  department training, curriculum, guidance, or other standards
  relating to suicide prevention; and
               (4)  inspecting, licensing, and enforcing regulations
  regarding mental health facilities, other than long-term care
  facilities regulated by the Health and Human [Department of Aging
  and Disability] Services Commission.
         SECTION 4.  Section 46.06(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (a)  A person commits an offense if the person:
               (1)  sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to
  any person knowing that the person to whom the handgun is to be
  delivered intends to use it unlawfully or in the commission of an
  unlawful act;
               (2)  intentionally or knowingly sells, rents, leases,
  or gives or offers to sell, rent, lease, or give to any child
  younger than 18 years of age any firearm, club, or
  location-restricted knife;
               (3)  intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly sells a
  firearm or ammunition for a firearm to any person who is
  intoxicated;
               (4)  knowingly sells a firearm or ammunition for a
  firearm to any person who has been convicted of a felony before the
  fifth anniversary of the later of the following dates:
                     (A)  the person's release from confinement
  following conviction of the felony; or
                     (B)  the person's release from supervision under
  community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision following
  conviction of the felony;
               (5)  sells, rents, leases, loans, or gives a handgun to
  any person knowing that an active protective order is directed to
  the person to whom the handgun is to be delivered;
               (6)  knowingly purchases, rents, leases, or receives as
  a loan or gift from another a handgun while an active protective
  order is directed to the actor; [or]
               (7)  while prohibited from possessing a firearm under
  state or federal law, knowingly makes a material false statement on
  a form that is:
                     (A)  required by state or federal law for the
  purchase, sale, or other transfer of a firearm; and
                     (B)  submitted to a licensed firearms dealer; or
               (8)  is a licensed firearms dealer and sells or
  otherwise transfers a firearm to a person the dealer knows is listed
  in the voluntary registry established under Subchapter H-1, Chapter
  411, Government Code[, as defined by 18 U.S.C. Section 923].
         SECTION 5.  Section 46.06(b), Penal Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (3) to read as follows:
               (3)  "Licensed firearms dealer" means a person who is
  licensed as a firearms dealer under 18 U.S.C. Section 923.
         SECTION 6.  (a) Not later than September 1, 2024, the
  Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas shall:
               (1)  develop and make available the waiver and
  revocation forms and establish the voluntary registry required by
  Subchapter H-1, Chapter 411, Government Code, as added by this Act;
               (2)  adopt the procedures regarding providing
  information under Subchapter H-1, Chapter 411, Government Code, as
  added by this Act, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation for use
  with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and
               (3)  adopt procedures regarding correcting department
  records of individuals listed in the voluntary registry under
  Subchapter H-1, Chapter 411, Government Code, as added by this Act.
         (b)  Section 46.06(a), Penal Code, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to a sale or other transfer of a firearm that occurs on
  or after September 1, 2024.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.