| 1 | 1 | | 88R8747 MZM-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Dutton H.B. No. 1838 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the establishment of the Texas Task Force on Gun |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | Violence. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. TEXAS TASK FORCE ON GUN VIOLENCE. (a) The |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | Texas Task Force on Gun Violence is established. |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | (b) The task force shall study the causes and effects of gun |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | violence in this state. After completing the study, the task force |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | shall develop recommendations for programs and legislation to |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | alleviate the incidence of gun violence in this state. |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | (c) The task force is composed of the following nine |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | members: |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | (1) three members appointed by the governor, one of |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | whom is a proponent of private gun ownership, one of whom is an |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | opponent of private gun ownership, and one of whom is employed as a |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | medical professional; |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | (2) three members appointed by the lieutenant |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | governor, one of whom is a prosecuting attorney, one of whom is a |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | university scholar with expertise on the issue of gun violence, and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | one of whom is a community advocate; and |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | (3) three members appointed by the speaker of the |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | house of representatives, one of whom is a member of the house of |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | representatives, one of whom is a member of the senate, and one of |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | whom is appropriately qualified as determined by the speaker. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (d) The governor shall designate one member of the task |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | force to serve as the presiding officer. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (e) A member of the task force is not entitled to |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the member's |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | the General Appropriations Act. |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | (f) The Texas Legislative Council and the Legislative |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Budget Board shall assist the task force in performing its duties. |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | (g) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall: |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | (1) compile a report of its findings and |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | recommendations, including proposed legislation to alleviate the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | incidence of gun violence in this state; and |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (2) submit the report to the governor, the lieutenant |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | (h) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to this |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | task force. |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (i) The task force is abolished and this Act expires on |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | January 1, 2025. |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. As soon as practicable |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | appoint members to the Texas Task Force on Gun Violence as required |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | by this Act. |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
|---|