85R9200 AJZ-D     By: Garcia S.B. No. 1778       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the provision of information regarding firearm safety   and suicide prevention.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 411.188(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  Only qualified handgun instructors may administer the   classroom instruction part or the range instruction part of the   handgun proficiency course.  The classroom instruction part of the   course must include not less than four hours and not more than six   hours of instruction on:                (1)  the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of   deadly force;                (2)  handgun use and safety, including use of restraint   holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying of openly   carried handguns;                (3)  nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]                (4)  proper storage practices for handguns with an   emphasis on storage practices that eliminate the possibility of   accidental injury to a child; and                (5)  the information described by Section 411.189(a).          SECTION 2.  Section 411.190(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  In addition to the qualifications described by   Subsection (a), a qualified handgun instructor must be qualified to   instruct persons in:                (1)  the laws that relate to weapons and to the use of   deadly force;                (2)  handgun use, proficiency, and safety, including   use of restraint holsters and methods to ensure the secure carrying   of openly carried handguns;                (3)  nonviolent dispute resolution; [and]                (4)  proper storage practices for handguns, including   storage practices that eliminate the possibility of accidental   injury to a child; and                (5)  the information described by Section 411.189(a).          SECTION 3.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 411.189 to read as follows:          Sec. 411.189.  FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION   INFORMATION. (a) The department shall post the following on the   department's Internet website:                (1)  information regarding:                      (A)  the importance of an owner of a firearm   safely storing the firearm, particularly when a member of the   owner's family or household is at risk of suicide;                      (B)  the warning signs that a person is at risk of   suicide; and                      (C)  the rate of suicide in this state, including   statistics regarding the method of suicide used; and                (2)  the phone number for the National Suicide   Prevention Lifeline.          (b)  The department shall also include on the department's   Internet website information regarding the risk of suicide among   various age groups and veterans and the importance of safely   storing firearms around a person who is at risk of suicide.          (c)  The department may provide the information described by   Subsection (a) to:                (1)  a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18   U.S.C. Section 923;                (2)  an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as   defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or                (3)  a promoter or operator of a gun show.          (d)  The department may partner with suicide prevention   programs and use existing resources to provide the information   described by Subsection (a).          SECTION 4.  Subchapter B, Chapter 531, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 531.02493 to read as follows:          Sec. 531.02493.  FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION   INFORMATION. (a)  On the commission's Internet website the   commission shall post evidence-based information regarding the   importance of an owner of a firearm safely storing the firearm,   particularly when a member of the owner's family or household is at   risk of suicide.          (b)  The commission shall also include the information   described by Subsection (a) on any portion of the commission's   Internet website that provides information primarily to veterans or   to minors and their parents.          (c)  The commission may provide the information described by   Subsection (a) to:                (1)  a person who is a licensed firearms dealer under 18   U.S.C. Section 923;                (2)  an owner or operator of a sport shooting range, as   defined by Section 250.001, Local Government Code; or                (3)  a promoter or operator of a gun show.          (d)  The commission may partner with suicide prevention   programs and use existing resources to provide the information   described by Subsection (a).          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.