By: King of Hemphill, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry)	H.B. No. 435
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2017;
	May 12, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on State
	Affairs; May 18, 2017, reported favorably by the following vote:
	Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 18, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the application of certain weapons laws to and
	liability for certain actions of volunteer emergency services
	personnel licensed to carry a handgun.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Title 5, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
	amended by adding Chapter 112 to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 112.  LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR GOVERNMENTAL UNITS
	Sec. 112.001.  CERTAIN ACTIONS OF VOLUNTEER EMERGENCY
	SERVICES PERSONNEL. (a)  In this section:
	(1)  "Governmental unit" has the meaning assigned by
	Section 101.001.
	(2)  "Volunteer emergency services personnel" has the
	meaning assigned by Section 46.01, Penal Code.
	(b)  A governmental unit is not liable in a civil action
	arising from the discharge of a handgun by an individual who is
	volunteer emergency services personnel and licensed to carry the
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.
	(c)  The discharge of a handgun by an individual who is
	volunteer emergency services personnel and licensed to carry the
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
	outside the course and scope of the individual's duties as
	volunteer emergency services personnel.
	(d)  This section may not be construed to waive the immunity
	from suit or liability of a governmental unit under Chapter 101 or
	any other law.
	SECTION 2.  Section 30.06, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (f) to read as follows:
	(f)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
	the license holder is volunteer emergency services personnel, as
	defined by Section 46.01.
	SECTION 3.  Section 30.07, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (g) to read as follows:
	(g)  It is a defense to prosecution under this section that
	the license holder is volunteer emergency services personnel, as
	defined by Section 46.01.
	SECTION 4.  Section 46.01, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Subdivision (18) to read as follows:
	(18)  "Volunteer emergency services personnel"
	includes a volunteer firefighter, an emergency medical services
	volunteer as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code,
	and any individual who, as a volunteer, provides services for the
	benefit of the general public during emergency situations. The
	term does not include a peace officer or reserve law enforcement
	officer, as those terms are defined by Section 1701.001,
	Occupations Code, who is performing law enforcement duties.
	SECTION 5.  Section 46.035, Penal Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (m) to read as follows:
	(m)  It is a defense to prosecution under Subsections (b) and
	(c) that the actor is volunteer emergency services personnel
	engaged in providing emergency services.
	SECTION 6.  Section 46.15(a), Penal Code, is amended to read
	as follows:
	(a)  Sections 46.02 and 46.03 do not apply to:
	(1)  peace officers or special investigators under
	Article 2.122, Code of Criminal Procedure, and neither section
	prohibits a peace officer or special investigator from carrying a
	weapon in this state, including in an establishment in this state
	serving the public, regardless of whether the peace officer or
	special investigator is engaged in the actual discharge of the
	officer's or investigator's duties while carrying the weapon;
	(2)  parole officers and neither section prohibits an
	officer from carrying a weapon in this state if the officer is:
	(A)  engaged in the actual discharge of the
	officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
	(B)  in compliance with policies and procedures
	adopted by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice regarding the
	possession of a weapon by an officer while on duty;
	(3)  community supervision and corrections department
	officers appointed or employed under Section 76.004, Government
	Code, and neither section prohibits an officer from carrying a
	weapon in this state if the officer is:
	(A)  engaged in the actual discharge of the
	officer's duties while carrying the weapon; and
	(B)  authorized to carry a weapon under Section
	76.0051, Government Code;
	(4)  an active judicial officer as defined by Section
	411.201, Government Code, who is licensed to carry a handgun under
	Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
	(5)  an honorably retired peace officer, qualified
	retired law enforcement officer, federal criminal investigator, or
	former reserve law enforcement officer who holds a certificate of
	proficiency issued under Section 1701.357, Occupations Code, and is
	carrying a photo identification that is issued by a federal, state,
	or local law enforcement agency, as applicable, and that verifies
	that the officer is:
	(A)  an honorably retired peace officer;
	(B)  a qualified retired law enforcement officer;
	(C)  a federal criminal investigator; or
	(D)  a former reserve law enforcement officer who
	has served in that capacity not less than a total of 15 years with
	one or more state or local law enforcement agencies;
	(6)  a district attorney, criminal district attorney,
	county attorney, or municipal attorney who is licensed to carry a
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
	(7)  an assistant district attorney, assistant
	criminal district attorney, or assistant county attorney who is
	licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
	Government Code;
	(8)  a bailiff designated by an active judicial officer
	as defined by Section 411.201, Government Code, who is:
	(A)  licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter
	H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
	(B)  engaged in escorting the judicial officer;
	[or]
	(9)  a juvenile probation officer who is authorized to
	carry a firearm under Section 142.006, Human Resources Code; or
	(10)  a person who is volunteer emergency services
	personnel if the person is:
	(A)  carrying a handgun under the authority of
	Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code; and
	(B)  engaged in providing emergency services.
	SECTION 7.  The changes in law made by this Act to Sections
	30.06 and 30.07 and Chapter 46, Penal Code, apply only to an offense
	committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An offense
	committed before the effective date of this Act 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 the effective date of this Act if
	any element of the offense occurred before that date.
	SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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