Texas 2023 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3539 House Committee Report / Bill

Filed 05/04/2023

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                    88R25210 JCG-F
 By: Troxclair, Guillen, Garcia, Isaac, H.B. No. 3539
 Harris of Williamson, et al.
 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3539:
 By:  Dorazio C.S.H.B. No. 3539


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to the establishment and operation of an ammunition
 facility by the Department of Public Safety.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 SECTION 1.  Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by
 adding Subchapter S to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER S. TEXAS AMMUNITION FACILITY
 Sec. 411.551.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Ammunition" means a combination of projectiles,
 cartridges, primers, and propellants designed to be discharged from
 a firearm.
 (2)  "Facility" means the Texas ammunition facility
 established under this subchapter.
 (3)  "Facility operator" means the person selected
 under Section 411.552 to operate the facility.
 (4)  "Law enforcement officer" means a person who is a
 peace officer under Article 2.12, Code of Criminal Procedure.
 (5)  "Law enforcement officer trainee" means a person
 enrolled in the basic peace officer training course required for
 the issuance of a peace officer license under Chapter 1701,
 Occupations Code.
 (6)  "Quality ammunition" means ammunition that meets
 the minimum safety specifications of the Sporting Arms and
 Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute for the caliber and type of
 cartridge manufactured, as specified.
 Sec. 411.552.  TEXAS AMMUNITION FACILITY. (a) The
 department shall contract with a person to establish and operate a
 facility that acquires, stores, and resells to law enforcement
 agencies quality ammunition to ensure the availability of
 ammunition for use by those agencies for training and public safety
 with a preference for law enforcement officers and law enforcement
 officer trainees.
 (b)  The department shall closely supervise the facility to
 promote and ensure integrity, security, honesty, and fairness in
 the operation of the facility.
 Sec. 411.553.  CERTAIN CONTRACT PROVISIONS REQUIRED. A
 contract under this subchapter for the acquisition, storage, and
 resale of quality ammunition must include provisions requiring:
 (1)  the ammunition to be manufactured in this state;
 and
 (2)  the packaging for the ammunition to:
 (A)  bear the state seal, state arms, or state
 flag; and
 (B)  state "Made in Texas".
 Sec. 411.554.  FACILITY OPERATOR POWERS AND DUTIES. (a)  The
 facility operator has the powers necessary to carry out the duties
 imposed on the operator under a contract entered into under this
 subchapter.
 (b)  The facility operator shall acquire and store quality
 ammunition to be resold at a reasonable price only to law
 enforcement agencies with a preference for use by law enforcement
 officers and law enforcement officer trainees.
 (c)  The facility operator shall acquire and store
 sufficient quality ammunition to prepare for potential future
 shortages of ammunition from other sources.
 Sec. 411.555.  CERTAIN SALES PROHIBITED. The facility may
 not sell ammunition or any component parts to any person except a
 law enforcement agency in this state.
 Sec. 411.556.  DEDICATION OF REVENUE. Any proceeds
 collected by the department under a contract awarded under this
 subchapter shall be deposited in the general revenue fund to the
 credit of the law enforcement officer standards and education fund
 account and may be appropriated only for the purposes described by
 this subchapter or Section 1701.157, Occupations Code.
 Sec. 411.557.  ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
 each year, the department shall submit a report to the governor and
 the legislature on the condition, operation, and projected business
 activity of the facility.
 SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 Act takes effect September 1, 2023.