85R1741 ADM-D     By: Wray, Price, Burns, Phelan, et al. H.B. No. 981       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the carrying of handguns by and an exemption from   application of the Private Security Act of certain persons who   provide security services on a volunteer basis at an established   place of religious worship.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter N, Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, is   amended by adding Section 1702.333 to read as follows:          Sec. 1702.333.  PLACE OF RELIGIOUS WORSHIP; CERTAIN   VOLUNTEERS. (a) This chapter does not apply to a person who   complies with Subsection (b) and who is approved by the leadership   of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious   worship to provide security services on the premises of the place of   religious worship as a member of a volunteer safety group.          (b)  While serving as a member of a volunteer safety group, a   person may not:                (1)  wear a uniform, badge, patch, or other item that   would give the member the appearance of being a peace officer,   personal protection officer, or security officer; or                (2)  carry an object displaying a word or phrase,   including the word "security," that would give the person the   appearance of being a peace officer, personal protection officer,   or security officer.          SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is   amended by adding Section 411.2035 to read as follows:          Sec. 411.2035.  CARRYING OF HANDGUNS ON PREMISES OF PLACE OF   RELIGIOUS WORSHIP. (a) This section applies only to a person who   is providing security services to a church, synagogue, or other   established place of religious worship as a member of a volunteer   safety group of the place of religious worship as described by   Section 1702.333, Occupations Code.          (b)  A person described by Subsection (a) who is licensed to   carry a handgun under this subchapter may carry a handgun on the   premises of the applicable place of religious worship only on   approval by the leadership of the place of religious worship.          SECTION 3.  Section 46.035(b), Penal Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  A license holder commits an offense if the license   holder intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly carries a handgun   under the authority of Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code,   regardless of whether the handgun is concealed or carried in a   shoulder or belt holster, on or about the license holder's person:                (1)  on the premises of a business that has a permit or   license issued under Chapter 25, 28, 32, 69, or 74, Alcoholic   Beverage Code, if the business derives 51 percent or more of its   income from the sale or service of alcoholic beverages for   on-premises consumption, as determined by the Texas Alcoholic   Beverage Commission under Section 104.06, Alcoholic Beverage Code;                (2)  on the premises where a high school, collegiate,   or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking   place, unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a   handgun is used in the event;                (3)  on the premises of a correctional facility;                (4)  on the premises of a hospital licensed under   Chapter 241, Health and Safety Code, or on the premises of a nursing   facility licensed under Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, unless   the license holder has written authorization of the hospital or   nursing facility administration, as appropriate;                (5)  in an amusement park; or                (6)  on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other   established place of religious worship, unless:                      (A)  the license holder is providing security   services to a church, synagogue, or other established place of   religious worship as a member of a volunteer safety group of the   place of religious worship as described by Section 1702.333,   Occupations Code; and                      (B)  the leadership of the place of religious   worship has approved the carrying of the handgun by the license   holder.          SECTION 4.  The change in law made by this Act to Section   46.035, Penal Code, 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 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.