85R5653 DMS-F
 
  By: White H.B. No. 927
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the regulation of firearms, air guns, knives,
  ammunition, and firearm and air gun supplies; imposing a civil
  penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 229.001(a), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, including Section 43.002
  of this code and Chapter 251, Agriculture Code, a municipality may
  not adopt regulations relating to:
               (1)  the transfer, storage, carrying, wearing, private
  ownership, keeping, transportation, licensing, or registration of
  firearms, air guns, knives, ammunition, or firearm or air gun
  supplies; or
               (2)  the discharge of a firearm or air gun at a sport
  shooting range.
         SECTION 2.  Subtitle C, Title 7, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 247 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 247. REGULATION OF FIREARMS, KNIVES, AND AMMUNITION
         Sec. 247.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Local regulation" means an ordinance, order, or
  regulation of a political subdivision.
               (2)  "Officer" means a person appointed or elected as
  an executive officer of a political subdivision.
               (3)  "Political subdivision" means a municipality,
  county, or special-purpose district, including a school, junior
  college, water, hospital, or conservation and reclamation
  district.
         Sec. 247.002.  UNAUTHORIZED LOCAL REGULATION OF FIREARMS,
  KNIVES, AND AMMUNITION. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a
  political subdivision or an officer of a political subdivision may
  not adopt or enforce a local regulation relating to a firearm, a
  knife, or ammunition unless authorized by this code or other state
  law.
         (b)  A local regulation relating to a firearm, a knife, or
  ammunition that is not authorized by this code or other state law is
  invalid.
         (c)  A political subdivision that violates Subsection (a) is
  liable for a civil penalty of:
               (1)  not less than $1,000 and not more than $1,500 for
  the first violation; and
               (2)  not less than $10,000 and not more than $10,500 for
  the second or a subsequent violation.
         (d)  Each day of a continuing violation of Subsection (a)
  constitutes a separate violation.
         (e)  If a political subdivision violates Subsection (a), a
  person may provide the political subdivision a written notice that
  describes the violation and the specific location of the violation.  
  If the political subdivision does not cure the violation before the
  end of the third business day after the date of receiving the
  notice, the person may file a complaint with the attorney general
  concerning the violation.  A complaint filed under this subsection
  must include evidence of the violation and a copy of the notice.
         (f)  A civil penalty collected by the attorney general under
  this section shall be deposited to the credit of the compensation to
  victims of crime fund established under Subchapter B, Chapter 56,
  Code of Criminal Procedure.
         (g)  Before a suit may be brought against a political
  subdivision for a violation of Subsection (a), the attorney general
  must investigate the complaint to determine whether legal action is
  warranted. If legal action is warranted, the attorney general must
  give the chief administrative officer of the political subdivision
  charged with the violation a written notice that:
               (1)  describes the violation and specific location of
  the violation;
               (2)  states the amount of the proposed penalty for the
  violation; and
               (3)  gives the political subdivision 15 days from
  receipt of the notice to cure the violation to avoid the penalty,
  unless the political subdivision was found liable by a court for
  previously violating Subsection (a).
         (h)  If the attorney general determines that legal action is
  warranted and that the political subdivision has not cured the
  violation within the 15-day period provided by Subsection (g)(3),
  the attorney general or the appropriate county or district attorney
  may sue to collect the civil penalty provided by Subsection (c). The
  attorney general may also file a petition for a writ of mandamus or
  apply for other appropriate equitable relief. A suit or petition
  under this subsection may be filed in a district court in Travis
  County or in a county in which the principal office of the political
  subdivision is located. The attorney general may recover reasonable
  expenses incurred in obtaining relief under this subsection,
  including court costs, reasonable attorney's fees, investigative
  costs, witness fees, and deposition costs.
         (i)  Governmental immunity to suit and from liability is
  waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by this
  chapter.  A political subdivision may not sue a person for an action
  taken in accordance with this chapter.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.