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        |  | AN ACT | 
      
        |  | relating to the handgun proficiency required to obtain or renew a | 
      
        |  | license to carry a handgun. | 
      
        |  | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | 
      
        |  | SECTION 1.  Section 411.188(a), Government Code, is amended | 
      
        |  | to read as follows: | 
      
        |  | (a)  The director by rule shall establish minimum standards | 
      
        |  | for handgun proficiency and shall develop a course to teach handgun | 
      
        |  | proficiency and examinations to measure handgun proficiency.  The | 
      
        |  | course to teach handgun proficiency is required for each person who | 
      
        |  | seeks to obtain a license and must contain training sessions | 
      
        |  | divided into two parts.  One part of the course must be classroom | 
      
        |  | instruction and the other part must be range instruction and an | 
      
        |  | actual demonstration by the applicant of the applicant's ability to | 
      
        |  | safely and proficiently use a handgun.  An applicant must be able to | 
      
        |  | demonstrate, at a minimum, the degree of proficiency that is | 
      
        |  | required to effectively operate a handgun [ of .32 caliber or  | 
      
        |  | above].  The department shall distribute the standards, course | 
      
        |  | requirements, and examinations on request to any qualified handgun | 
      
        |  | instructor. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only | 
      
        |  | to an application to obtain or renew a 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 when the application was submitted, | 
      
        |  | and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. | 
      
        |  | SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | 
      
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        |  | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 263 passed the Senate on | 
      
        |  | April 3, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 2. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Secretary of the Senate | 
      
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        |  | I hereby certify that S.B. No. 263 passed the House on | 
      
        |  | May 24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, two | 
      
        |  | present not voting. | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Chief Clerk of the House | 
      
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        |  | Approved: | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Date | 
      
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        |  | ______________________________ | 
      
        |  | Governor |