H.B. No. 1920
AN ACT
relating to the offense of possessing a weapon in a secured area of
an airport.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.03(c)(3), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(3) "Secured area" means an area of an airport
terminal building to which access is controlled by the inspection
of persons and property under federal law, or an aircraft parking
area that is used by common carriers in air transportation but not
by general aviation and to which access is controlled under federal
law. The term does not include a baggage claim area, a motor
vehicle parking area used by passengers, employees, or persons
awaiting an arrival, or an area used by the public to pick up or drop
off passengers or employees.
SECTION 2. Section 46.03(e), Penal Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(e) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (a)(5)
that the actor:
(1) checked all firearms as baggage in accordance with
federal or state law or regulations before entering a secured area;
or
(2) was authorized by a federal agency or the airport
operator to possess a firearm in a secured area.
SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
before that date.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1920 was passed by the House on April
27, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 12, 1 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1920 was passed by the Senate on May
21, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor