BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 16

By: Nichols

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the fees to apply for or renew a handgun license in Texas are too high and impose an undue burden on citizens' constitutional right to bear arms. S.B. 16 seeks to address these concerns by reducing certain fees relating to a handgun license.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 16 amends the Government Code to decrease from $140 to $40 the application and license fee for a handgun license and to decrease from $100 to $40 the fee a handgun license applicant who is certified as a qualified handgun instructor is required to submit to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in addition to a training fee. The bill removes the requirement for the public safety director of DPS to set by rule the handgun license renewal fee and instead sets the renewal fee at $40. The bill sets the application and license fee for a handgun license applicant who is an active or retired judicial officer at $25 and removes reference to DPS setting the amount of that fee. The bill removes the requirements for DPS to reduce by 50 percent any fee required for the issuance of an original handgun license for an applicant who is 60 years of age or older or who DPS determines is indigent and replaces the requirements for DPS to reduce by 50 percent any fee required for the issuance of a renewed handgun license for such persons with a requirement for DPS to reduce by $5 any such fee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.