85R1741 ADM-D
 
  By: Wray, Price, Burns, Phelan, et al. H.B. No. 981
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the carrying of handguns by and an exemption from
  application of the Private Security Act of certain persons who
  provide security services on a volunteer basis at an established
  place of religious worship.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1702.333 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1702.333.  PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP; CERTAIN
  VOLUNTEERS. (a) This chapter does not apply to a person who
  complies with Subsection (b) and who is approved by the leadership
  of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious
  worship to provide security services on the premises of the place of
  religious worship as a member of a volunteer safety group.
         (b)  While serving as a member of a volunteer safety group, a
  person may not:
               (1)  wear a uniform, badge, patch, or other item that
  would give the member the appearance of being a peace officer,
  personal protection officer, or security officer; or
               (2)  carry an object displaying a word or phrase,
  including the word "security," that would give the person the
  appearance of being a peace officer, personal protection officer,
  or security officer.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.2035 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.2035.  CARRYING OF HANDGUNS ON PREMISES OF PLACE OF
  RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. (a) This section applies only to a person who
  is providing security services to a church, synagogue, or other
  established place of religious worship as a member of a volunteer
  safety group of the place of religious worship as described by
  Section 1702.333, Occupations Code.
         (b)  A person described by Subsection (a) who is licensed to
  carry a handgun under this subchapter may carry a handgun on the
  premises of the applicable place of religious worship only on
  approval by the leadership of the place of religious worship.
         SECTION 3.  Section 46.035(b), Penal Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  A license holder commits an offense if the license
  holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun
  under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
  regardless of whether the handgun is concealed or carried in a
  shoulder or belt holster, on or about the license holder's person:
               (1)  on the premises of a business that has a permit or
  license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic
  Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its
  income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for
  on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic
  Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code;
               (2)  on the premises where a high school, collegiate,
  or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking
  place, unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a
  handgun is used in the event;
               (3)  on the premises of a correctional facility;
               (4)  on the premises of a hospital licensed under
  Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing
  facility licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless
  the license holder has written authorization of the hospital or
  nursing facility administration, as appropriate;
               (5)  in an amusement park; or
               (6)  on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other
  established place of religious worship, unless:
                     (A)  the license holder is providing security
  services to a church, synagogue, or other established place of
  religious worship as a member of a volunteer safety group of the
  place of religious worship as described by Section 1702.333,
  Occupations Code; and
                     (B)  the leadership of the place of religious
  worship has approved the carrying of the handgun by the license
  holder.
         SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act to Section
  46.035, 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.