87R9603 MEW-F
By: Cason, White, Schaefer, H.B. No. 2967
Morales of Maverick, et al.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the unlawful carrying of a handgun in a motor vehicle or
watercraft.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 46.02(a-1), Penal Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a-1) A person commits an offense if the person
intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries on or about his or
her person a handgun in a motor vehicle or watercraft that is owned
by the person or under the person's control at any time in which:
(1) the handgun is in plain view, unless the person is
licensed to carry a handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411,
Government Code, and the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt
holster; or
(2) the person [is]:
(A) is engaged in criminal activity, other than a
Class C misdemeanor that is a violation of a law or ordinance
regulating traffic or boating;
(B) is prohibited by law from possessing a
firearm; or
(C) has been previously convicted of an offense
for which the judgment in the case contains an affirmative finding
under Article 42.0197, Code of Criminal Procedure [a member of a
criminal street gang, as defined by Section 71.01].
SECTION 2. 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 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.