HLS 22RS-360 REENGROSSED
2022 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 37
BY REPRESENTATIVES MCCORMICK, AMEDEE, BACALA, BAGLEY, BUTLER,
CARRIER, CORMIER, CREWS, ECHOLS, EDMONDS, EDMONSTON,
EMERSON, FIRMENT, FRIEMAN, GADBERRY, GAROFALO, GEYMANN,
HARRIS, HODGES, HOLLIS, HORTON, HUVAL, IVEY, MIKE JOHNSON,
MACK, MCFARLAND, MIGUEZ, ORGERON, CHARLES OWEN, ROBERT
OWEN, RISER, ROMERO, SCHAMERHORN, SEAB AUGH, AND WRIGHT
WEAPONS/HANDGUNS: Provides relative to the concealed carrying of firearms
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 40:1379.3(B) and to enact R.S. 14:95(M) and R.S. 40:1379.3.3,
3 relative to the illegal carrying of weapons; to exempt certain persons from the crime
4 of illegal carrying of weapons; to provide relative to concealed handgun permits; to
5 provide relative to the authority of a person to carry a concealed handgun without a
6 permit; to provide for the Louisiana Firearm Safety Awareness Act; to provide
7 relative to an online education course; to provide for a purpose; to provide relative
8 to course topics; to provide relative to database maintenance; to provide for
9 promulgation of rules; and to provide for related matters.
10Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11 Section 1. R.S. 14:95(M) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
12 §95. Illegal carrying of weapons
13 * * *
14 M. The provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) of this Section shall not apply to a
15 person if all of the following conditions are met:
16 (1) The person is twenty-one years of age or older.
17 (2) The person is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under R.S.
18 14:95.1 or any other state or federal law.
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HB NO. 37
1 Section 2. R.S. 40:1379.3(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 40:1379.3.3
2is hereby enacted to read as follows:
3 §1379.3. Statewide permits for concealed handguns; application procedures;
4 definitions
5 * * *
6 B.(1) A concealed handgun permit shall be issued only to a Louisiana
7 resident who qualifies for a permit under the provisions of this Section. A concealed
8 handgun permit issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall grant authority
9 to a Louisiana resident to carry a concealed handgun on his person.
10 (2) A Louisiana resident shall be required to possess a valid concealed
11 handgun permit issued by the state of Louisiana pursuant to the provisions of this
12 Section in order to carry a concealed handgun in the state of Louisiana.
13 * * *
14 §1379.3.3. Louisiana Firearm Safety Awareness Act
15 A. This Section shall be known and cited as the "Louisiana Firearm Safety
16 Awareness Act".
17 B. The Department of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police,
18 shall provide a two-hour online handgun education course at no cost to Louisiana
19 residents.
20 C. The purpose of this online education course is to educate the public on
21 firearm safety and use. The course is optional and shall not be a requirement for
22 obtaining a concealed handgun permit under R.S. 40:1379.3. Completion of this
23 course shall not grant any person the right to carry a concealed handgun unless
24 otherwise provided by law.
25 D. The online handgun education course shall include instruction on all of
26 the following topics:
27 (1) Handgun basics and nomenclature.
28 (2) Firearm-free zones.
29 (3) Use of deadly force.
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HB NO. 37
1 (4) Interactions with law enforcement officers.
2 (5) Conflict resolution.
3 (6) Accident prevention.
4 (7) Unauthorized access prevention.
5 (8) Safe handling of a handgun.
6 E. State police shall maintain an online database of all licensed handgun and
7 firearm instructors to allow the public to search for classes.
8 F.(1) The content, structure, accessibility, and all other related matters of the
9 online handgun education shall be developed and promulgated by the Department
10 of Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, in accordance with the rules
11 and regulations of the Administrative Procedure Act.
12 (2) In accordance with Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the Department of
13 Public Safety and Corrections, office of state police, shall divide the topics provided
14 in Subsection D of this Section into eight video segments that shall broadcast for no
15 less than fifteen minutes per segment.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 37 Reengrossed 2022 Regular Session McCormick
Abstract: Exempts certain persons from the crime of illegal carrying of weapons, removes
the requirement that a person possess a permit issued by the state in order to carry
a concealed handgun, and provides for an online handgun education course.
Present law (R.S. 14:95) prohibits the carrying of a concealed firearm, provides for criminal
penalties, and provides for certain exceptions to the offense.
Proposed law creates an exception to this prohibition for a person who is 21 years of age or
older and who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm under any federal or state law.
Present law (R.S. 40:1379.3) provides that La. residents who meet certain eligibility
requirements may apply for and be issued a concealed handgun permit authorizing the
person to carry a concealed handgun on his person in the state. Present law requires the
person to possess a valid concealed handgun permit issued by the state in order to carry a
concealed handgun.
Proposed law removes the requirement that a person possess a permit issued by the state in
order to carry a concealed handgun.
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HB NO. 37
Proposed law (R.S. 40:1379.3.3) shall be known and cited as the "Louisiana Firearm Safety
Awareness Act".
Proposed law provides that the DPS&C, office of state police, shall provide a two-hour
online handgun education course at no cost to La. residents.
Proposed law provides for the purpose of the online education course, and provides that the
course is optional and shall not be a requirement for obtaining a concealed handgun permit
under present law (R.S. 40:1379.3).
Proposed law provides that completion of the online education course shall not grant any
person the right to carry a concealed handgun unless otherwise provided by law.
Proposed law provides that the online handgun education course shall cover all of the
following topics:
(1)Handgun basics and nomenclature.
(2)Firearm-free zones.
(3)Use of deadly force.
(4)Interactions with law enforcement officers.
(5)Conflict resolution.
(6)Accident prevention.
(7)Unauthorized access prevention.
(8)Safe handling of a handgun.
Proposed law provides that state police shall maintain an online database of all licensed
handgun and firearm instructors to allow the public to search for classes.
Proposed law provides that the content, structure, accessibility, and all other related matters
of the online handgun education shall be developed and promulgated by the DPS&C, office
of state police, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Administrative Procedure
Act.
Proposed law provides that the DPS&C, office of state police, shall divide the topics
provided in proposed law into eight video segments that shall broadcast for no less than 15
minutes per segment.
(Amends R.S. 40:1379.3(B); Adds R.S. 14:95(M) and R.S. 40:1379.3.3)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Administration of
Criminal Justice to the original bill:
1. Increase the minimum age a person must be to legally carry a weapon from 18
years of age to 21 years of age.
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HB NO. 37
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Add language that provides for the implementation and development of an
optional online handgun education course.
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