H.B. No. 3370

	AN ACT
	relating to the authority of certain retired peace officers and
	former reserve law enforcement officers to carry certain firearms.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 411.1992 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.1992.  FORMER RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
	(a) A person who served as a reserve law enforcement officer, as
	defined by Section 1701.001, Occupations Code, not less than a
	total of 15 years with one or more state or local law enforcement
	agencies may apply for a license under this subchapter at any time.
	(b)  The applicant shall submit to the department two
	complete sets of legible and classifiable fingerprints and a sworn
	statement from the head of the law enforcement agency at which the
	applicant last served as a reserve law enforcement officer. A head
	of a law enforcement agency may not refuse to issue a statement
	under this subsection. If the applicant alleges that the statement
	is untrue, the department shall investigate the validity of the
	statement. The statement must include:
	(1)  the name and rank of the applicant;
	(2)  the status of the applicant;
	(3)  whether the applicant was accused of misconduct at
	any time during the applicant's term of service and the disposition
	of that accusation;
	(4)  a description of the physical and mental condition
	of the applicant;
	(5)  a list of the types of weapons the applicant
	demonstrated proficiency with during the applicant's term of
	service; and
	(6)  a recommendation from the agency head regarding
	the issuance of a license under this subchapter.
	(c)  The department may issue a license under this subchapter
	to an applicant under this section if the applicant was a reserve
	law enforcement officer for not less than a total of 15 years with
	one or more state or local law enforcement agencies and is
	physically and emotionally fit to possess a handgun.
	(d)  An applicant under this section must pay a fee of $25 for
	a license issued under this subchapter.
	(e)  A former reserve law enforcement officer who obtains a
	license as provided by this section must maintain, for the category
	of weapon licensed, the proficiency required for the person under
	Section 1701.357, Occupations Code.  The department or the local
	law enforcement agency at which the person last served as a reserve
	law enforcement officer shall allow the person an opportunity to
	annually demonstrate the required proficiency.  The proficiency
	shall be reported to the department on application and renewal.
	(f)  A license issued under this section expires as provided
	by Section 411.183.
	SECTION 2.  The heading to Section 1701.357, Occupations
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 1701.357.  WEAPONS PROFICIENCY FOR CERTAIN RETIRED
	PEACE OFFICERS AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND FOR FORMER
	RESERVE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
	SECTION 3.  Section 1701.357, Occupations Code, is amended
	by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) and adding
	Subsections (b-1), (c-1), and (j) to read as follows:
	(a)  This section applies only to:
	(1)  a peace officer;
	(2)  a federal criminal investigator designated as a
	special investigator under Article 2.122, Code of Criminal
	Procedure; [and]
	(3)  a qualified retired law enforcement officer who is
	entitled to carry a concealed firearm under 18 U.S.C. Section 926C
	and is not otherwise described by Subdivision (1) or (2); and
	(4)  a former reserve law enforcement officer who
	served in that capacity not less than a total of 15 years with one or
	more state or local law enforcement agencies.
	(b)  The head of a state or local law enforcement agency may
	allow an honorably retired peace officer an opportunity to
	demonstrate weapons proficiency if the retired officer provides to
	the agency a sworn affidavit stating that:
	(1)  the officer:
	(A)  honorably retired after not less than a total
	of 15 years of service as a commissioned officer with one or more
	state or local law enforcement agencies; or
	(B)  before completing 15 years of service as a
	commissioned officer with one or more state or local law
	enforcement agencies, separated from employment with the agency or
	agencies and is a qualified retired law enforcement officer, as
	defined by 18 U.S.C. Section 926C;
	(2)  the officer's license as a commissioned officer
	was not revoked or suspended for any period during the officer's
	term of service as a commissioned officer; and
	(3)  the officer has no psychological or physical
	disability that would interfere with the officer's proper handling
	of a handgun.
	(b-1)  The head of a state or local law enforcement agency
	may allow a person who served as a reserve law enforcement officer
	as described by Subsection (a)(4) an opportunity to demonstrate
	weapons proficiency if the person provides to the agency a sworn
	affidavit stating that:
	(1)  the person served not less than a total of 15 years
	as a reserve law enforcement officer with one or more state or local
	law enforcement agencies;
	(2)  the person's appointment as a reserve law
	enforcement officer was not revoked or suspended for any period
	during the person's term of service; and
	(3)  the person has no psychological or physical
	disability that would interfere with the person's proper handling
	of a handgun.
	(c)  The agency shall establish written procedures for the
	issuance or denial of a certificate of proficiency under this
	section.  The agency shall issue the certificate to a retired
	officer who satisfactorily demonstrates weapons proficiency under
	Subsection (b), provides proof that the officer is entitled to
	receive a pension or annuity for service with a state or local law
	enforcement agency or is not entitled to receive a pension or
	annuity only because the law enforcement agency that employed the
	retired officer does not offer a pension or annuity to its retired
	employees, and satisfies the written procedures established by the
	agency. The agency shall issue the certificate to a person
	described by Subsection (a)(4) who satisfactorily demonstrates
	weapons proficiency under Subsection (b-1).  The agency shall
	maintain records of any person [retired officer] who holds a
	certificate issued under this section.
	(c-1)  For purposes of Subsection (c) [this subsection],
	proof that a retired officer is entitled to receive a pension or
	annuity or is not entitled to receive a pension or annuity only
	because the agency that last employed the retired officer does not
	offer a pension or annuity may include a retired peace officer
	identification card issued under Subchapter H, Chapter 614,
	Government Code.
	(d)  A certificate issued under this section expires on the
	second anniversary of the date the certificate was issued.  A
	person [retired officer] to whom this section applies may request
	an annual evaluation of weapons proficiency and issuance of a
	certificate of proficiency as needed to comply with applicable
	federal or other laws.
	(j)  On request of a person described by Subsection (a)(4)
	who holds a certificate of proficiency under this section, the head
	of the state or local law enforcement agency at which the person
	last served as a reserve law enforcement officer shall issue to the
	person identification that indicates the person's status. An
	identification under this subsection must include a photograph of
	the person.
	SECTION 4.  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 concealed
	handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;
	(5)  an honorably retired peace officer, qualified
	retired law enforcement officer, [or] 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[:
	[(A)]  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 [after not less
	than 15 years of service as a commissioned officer; and
	[(B)     is issued by a state or local law
	enforcement agency];
	(6)  a district attorney, criminal district attorney,
	county attorney, or municipal attorney who is licensed to carry a
	concealed 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 concealed 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 concealed handgun under
	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.
	SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
	46.15, Penal Code, applies 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 on the
	date 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 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3370 was passed by the House on May 7,
	2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
	No. 3370 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0,
	2 present, not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 3370 was passed by the Senate, with
	amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
	0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor