85R8503 JSC-D     By: Phelan H.B. No. 2772       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to requirements for peace officers to obtain an original,   duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun; waiving   a fee.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 411.175, Government Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 411.175.  PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING FINGERPRINTS.  The   department shall establish procedures for the submission of legible   and classifiable fingerprints by an applicant for a license under   this subchapter who:                (1)  is required to submit those fingerprints to the   department, including an applicant under Section 411.199[,   411.1991,] or 411.201; and                (2)  resides in a county having a population of 46,000   or less and does not reside within a 25-mile radius of a facility   with the capability to process digital or electronic fingerprints.          SECTION 2.  Section 411.1881(a), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,   a person may not be required to complete the range instruction   portion of a handgun proficiency course to obtain a license issued   under this subchapter if the person is licensed as a peace officer   under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and currently employed as a   peace officer by a law enforcement agency or:                (1)  is currently serving in or is honorably discharged   from:                      (A)  the army, navy, air force, coast guard, or   marine corps of the United States or an auxiliary service or reserve   unit of one of those branches of the armed forces; or                      (B)  the Texas military forces, as defined by   Section 437.001; and                (2)  has, within the five years preceding the date of   the person's application for the license, completed a course of   training in handgun proficiency or familiarization as part of the   person's service with the armed forces or Texas military forces.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is   amended by amending Section 411.1991 and adding Section 411.1993 to   read as follows:          Sec. 411.1991.  PEACE OFFICERS. (a)  A person who is   licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code,   and employed as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency[, or who   is a member of the Texas military forces, excluding Texas State   Guard members who are serving in the Texas Legislature,] may apply   for a license under this subchapter.          (b) [(a-1)]  An applicant who is a peace officer shall submit   to the department:                (1)  the name and rank of the applicant; and                (2)  a current copy of the applicant's peace officer   license and evidence of employment as a peace officer.          (c)  The department may issue a license under this subchapter   to an applicant under this section only if the applicant complies   with Subsection (b).          (d)  The department shall waive any fee required for the   issuance of an original, duplicate, modified, or renewed license   under this subchapter for an applicant under this section.          (e)  A license issued to an applicant under this section   expires as provided by Section 411.183.          Sec. 411.1993.  CERTAIN MEMBERS OF TEXAS MILITARY FORCES.   (a)  A person who is a member of the Texas military forces, other   than a member of the Texas State Guard who is serving in the Texas   Legislature, may apply for a license under this subchapter.          (b) [(a-2)]  The department shall adopt rules regarding the   information required to be included in an application submitted by   a member of the Texas military forces under this section.          (c) [(b)]  The department may issue a license under this   subchapter to an applicant under this section only if the applicant   complies with the [Subsection (a-1) or] rules adopted under   Subsection (b) [(a-2), as applicable].          (d) [(c)]  An applicant under this section shall pay a fee of   $25 for a license issued under this subchapter.          (e) [(d)]  A license issued to an applicant under this   section expires as provided by Section 411.183.          SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act applies only   to an application that is made to obtain an original, duplicate,   modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun and submitted on or   after the effective date of this Act. An application described by   this section that is submitted before the effective date of this Act   is governed by the law in effect when the application was submitted,   and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.