86R19700 ADM-D
By: Howard, Goodwin, Miller, et al. H.B. No. 316
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 316:
By: Goodwin C.S.H.B. No. 316
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and
suicide prevention.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.210 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.210. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PUBLIC
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. (a) The department, in conjunction with the
Department of State Health Services, the Parks and Wildlife
Department, and other appropriate agencies, shall develop and
implement a public awareness campaign designed to encourage firearm
safety and to improve public awareness on the topics of:
(1) prevention of firearm accidents involving
children;
(2) suicide prevention; and
(3) the safe handling and storage of firearms.
(b) In implementing the campaign, the department may engage
in online advocacy, issue public service announcements, and
distribute materials that cover the topics described by Subsection
(a). The department may publish its own materials on those topics
or may distribute materials published by firearm safety education
programs that seek to encourage firearm owners to embrace the
importance of firearm storage.
(c) The department may pay the costs of the campaign and its
administration from:
(1) gifts, grants, or donations;
(2) matching funds; and
(3) other funds made available for that purpose,
including available department revenue.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.