HBA-MSH H.B. 507 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 507 By: Allen Public Safety 2/20/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, a peace officer may carry a firearm under different circumstances than an individual licensed to carry a concealed handgun (licensee). For example, a licensee is prohibited from carrying the firearm on certain premises, such as a school, a court building, an airport, or a racetrack. House Bill 507 authorizes the Department of Public Safety to adopt a permit process to authorize the licensee or any other individual to carry a firearm in the same manner as a peace officer. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Public Safety in SECTION 1 (Section 411.209, Government Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 507 amends the Government Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety (DPS), by rule, to adopt a permit process that authorizes a concealed handgun license holder or other individual to carry a concealed handgun or any other firearm. In establishing the permit process, the bill requires DPS to determine the form of any required applications, the qualifications required of applicants, and the imposition of costs on applicants for permits. The bill provides that the possession of such a permit provides the permit holder with an exception to the application of laws prohibiting the carrying of firearms in the same manner as is provided to peace officers by the laws of this state. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.