85R9200 AJZ-D
By: Garcia S.B. No. 1778
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the provision of information regarding firearm safety
and suicide prevention.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 411.188(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Only qualified handgun instructors may administer the
classroom instruction part or the range instruction part of the
handgun proficiency course. The classroom instruction part of the
course must include not less than four hours and not more than six
hours of instruction on:
(1) the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of
deadly force;
(2) handgun use and safety, including use of restraint
holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly
carried handguns;
(3) nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]
(4) proper storage practices for handguns with an
emphasis on storage practices that eliminate the possibility of
accidental injury to a child; and
(5) the information described by Section 411.189(a).
SECTION 2. Section 411.190(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) In addition to the qualifications described by
Subsection (a), a qualified handgun instructor must be qualified to
instruct persons in:
(1) the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of
deadly force;
(2) handgun use, proficiency, and safety, including
use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying
of openly carried handguns;
(3) nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]
(4) proper storage practices for handguns, including
storage practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental
injury to a child; and
(5) the information described by Section 411.189(a).
SECTION 3. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.189 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.189. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
INFORMATION. (a) The department shall post the following on the
department's Internet website:
(1) information regarding:
(A) the importance of an owner of a firearm
safely storing the firearm, particularly when a member of the
owner's family or household is at risk of suicide;
(B) the warning signs that a person is at risk of
suicide; and
(C) the rate of suicide in this state, including
statistics regarding the method of suicide used; and
(2) the phone number for the National Suicide
Prevention Lifeline.
(b) The department shall also include on the department's
Internet website information regarding the risk of suicide among
various age groups and veterans and the importance of safely
storing firearms around a person who is at risk of suicide.
(c) The department may provide the information described by
Subsection (a) to:
(1) a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18
U.S.C. Section 923;
(2) an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as
defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or
(3) a promoter or operator of a gun show.
(d) The department may partner with suicide prevention
programs and use existing resources to provide the information
described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 531.02493 to read as follows:
Sec. 531.02493. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION
INFORMATION. (a) On the commission's Internet website the
commission shall post evidence-based information regarding the
importance of an owner of a firearm safely storing the firearm,
particularly when a member of the owner's family or household is at
risk of suicide.
(b) The commission shall also include the information
described by Subsection (a) on any portion of the commission's
Internet website that provides information primarily to veterans or
to minors and their parents.
(c) The commission may provide the information described by
Subsection (a) to:
(1) a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18
U.S.C. Section 923;
(2) an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as
defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or
(3) a promoter or operator of a gun show.
(d) The commission may partner with suicide prevention
programs and use existing resources to provide the information
described by Subsection (a).
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.