82R13304 KSD-F
By: Hegar, Birdwell, et al. S.B. No. 321
(Kleinschmidt)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 321: No.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an employee's transportation and storage of certain
firearms or ammunition while on certain property owned or
controlled by the employee's employer.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 52, Labor Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter G to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER G. RESTRICTIONS ON PROHIBITING EMPLOYEE TRANSPORTATION
OR STORAGE OF CERTAIN FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION
Sec. 52.061. RESTRICTION ON PROHIBITING EMPLOYEE ACCESS TO
OR STORAGE OF FIREARM OR AMMUNITION. A public or private employer
may not prohibit an employee who holds a license to carry a
concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
who otherwise lawfully possesses a firearm, or who lawfully
possesses ammunition from transporting or storing a firearm or
ammunition the employee is authorized by law to possess in a locked,
privately owned motor vehicle in a parking lot, parking garage, or
other parking area the employer provides for employees.
Sec. 52.062. EXCEPTIONS. (a) Section 52.061 does not:
(1) authorize a person who holds a license to carry a
concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
who otherwise lawfully possesses a firearm, or who lawfully
possesses ammunition to possess a firearm or ammunition on any
property where the possession of a firearm or ammunition is
prohibited by state or federal law; or
(2) apply to:
(A) a vehicle owned or leased by a public or
private employer and used by an employee in the course and scope of
the employee's employment, unless the employee is required to
transport or store a firearm in the official discharge of the
employee's duties;
(B) a school district;
(C) an open-enrollment charter school, as
defined by Section 5.001, Education Code;
(D) a private school, as defined by Section
22.081, Education Code;
(E) property owned or controlled by a person,
other than the employer, that is subject to a valid, unexpired oil,
gas, or other mineral lease executed before September 1, 2011, that
contains a provision prohibiting the possession of firearms on the
property; or
(F) property owned or leased by a chemical
manufacturer or oil and gas refiner with an air authorization under
Chapter 382, Health and Safety Code, and on which the primary
business conducted is the manufacture, use, storage, or
transportation of hazardous, combustible, or explosive materials,
except in regard to an employee who holds a license to carry a
concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,
and who stores the handgun in a locked, privately owned motor
vehicle in a parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area the
employer provides for employees that is outside of a secured and
restricted area:
(i) that contains the physical plant;
(ii) that is not open to the public; and
(iii) the ingress into which is constantly
monitored by security personnel.
(b) Section 52.061 does not prohibit an employer from
prohibiting an employee who holds a license to carry a concealed
handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, or who
otherwise lawfully possesses a firearm, from possessing a firearm
the employee is otherwise authorized by law to possess on the
premises of the employer's business. In this subsection,
"premises" has the meaning assigned by Section 46.035(f)(3), Penal
Code.
Sec. 52.063. IMMUNITY FROM CIVIL LIABILITY. Except in
cases of gross negligence, a public or private employer or the
employer's agent is not liable in a civil action for personal
injury, death, property damage, or any other damages resulting from
or arising out of an occurrence involving a firearm or ammunition
transported or stored in accordance with Section 52.061, including
an action for damages arising from the theft of the firearm or
ammunition or the use of the firearm or ammunition by a person other
than the employee authorized by Section 52.061 to transport or
store the firearm or ammunition. The presence of a firearm or
ammunition transported or stored in the manner and in a location
described by Section 52.061 does not by itself constitute a failure
by the employer to provide a safe workplace.
SECTION 2. Section 411.203, Government Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 411.203. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYERS. This subchapter does
not prevent or otherwise limit the right of a public or private
employer to prohibit persons who are licensed under this subchapter
from carrying a concealed handgun on the premises of the business.
In this section, "premises" has the meaning assigned by Section
46.035(f)(3), Penal Code.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective date of
this Act. A cause of action that accrues before that date is
governed by the law as it existed immediately before the effective
date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for that
purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.