By: Shaheen	H.B. No. 2083

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to expedited processing of certain applications for a
	license to carry a handgun; waiving a fee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 411.177, Government Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
	(b-2) to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (b-1), the
	[The] department shall, not later than the 60th day after the date
	of the receipt by the director's designee of the completed
	application materials:
	(1)  issue the license;
	(2)  notify the applicant in writing that the
	application was denied:
	(A)  on the grounds that the applicant failed to
	qualify under the criteria listed in Section 411.172;
	(B)  based on the affidavit of the director's
	designee submitted to the department under Section 411.176(c); or
	(C)  based on the affidavit of the qualified
	handgun instructor submitted to the department under Section
	411.188(k); or
	(3)  notify the applicant in writing that the
	department is unable to make a determination regarding the issuance
	or denial of a license to the applicant within the 60-day period
	prescribed by this subsection and include in that notification an
	explanation of the reason for the inability and an estimation of the
	amount of time the department will need to make the determination.
	(b-1)  If the applicant submits with the completed
	application materials a copy of an active protective order issued
	under Title 4, Family Code, or Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, or an active magistrate's emergency order of protection
	under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, that indicates
	that the applicant or another person in the applicant's family or
	household is protected by the order, the department shall, without
	charging an additional fee, expedite the application.  As soon as
	practicable after the receipt of the materials under this
	subsection, the department shall:
	(1)  issue the license;
	(2)  notify the applicant in writing that the
	application was denied:
	(A)  on the grounds that the applicant failed to
	qualify under the criteria listed in Section 411.172;
	(B)  based on the affidavit of the director's
	designee submitted to the department under Section 411.176(c); or
	(C)  based on the affidavit of the qualified
	handgun instructor submitted to the department under Section
	411.188(k); or
	(3)  notify the applicant in writing that the
	department is unable to make a determination regarding the issuance
	or denial of a license to the applicant within the period of three
	business days as prescribed by this subsection and include in that
	notification an explanation of the reason for the inability and an
	estimation of the amount of time the department will need to make
	the determination.
	(b-2)  The director shall adopt policies for expedited
	processing under Subsection (b-1).
	(c)  Failure of the department to issue or deny a license for
	a period of more than 30 days after the department is required to
	act under Subsection (b) or (b-1) constitutes denial.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
	amended by adding Section 411.1954 to read as follows:
	Sec. 411.1954.  WAIVING OF FEES FOR CERTAIN APPLICANTS WITH
	PROTECTIVE ORDER. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
	subchapter, the fee for the issuance of an original, duplicate,
	modified, or renewed license under this subchapter if the applicant
	submits to the department a copy of an active protective order
	issued under Title 4, Family Code, or Chapter 7A, Code of Criminal
	Procedure, or an active magistrate's emergency order of protection
	under Article 17.292, Code of Criminal Procedure, that indicates
	that the applicant or another person in the applicant's family or
	household is protected by the order, shall be waived.
	SECTION 3.  Section 411.177, Government Code, as amended by
	this Act, applies only to an application for a license to carry a
	handgun for which the completed application materials are received
	by the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas on or after
	the effective date of this Act.
	An application for a license to
	carry a handgun for which the completed application materials were
	received before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
	law in effect on the date the materials were received, and the
	former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 4.  Section 411.1954, Government Code, as added by
	this Act, applies only to an application for an original,
	duplicate, modified, or renewed license to carry a handgun
	submitted on or after the effective date of this Act.  An
	application submitted before the effective date of this Act is
	governed by the law in effect on the date the application was
	submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that
	purpose.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.