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Just heard back from Rep Fletcher's office:


We had to get the bill moving. And we will work to amend on the floor. The sub as passed removes the felony penalty but imposes a class A misdemeanor, we are working on an amendment to decriminalize this portion.

We are working on a few other amendments for the floor as well to help move it closer to the original intent of the filed bill.

We should have some floor amendments ready later this week.

Looks like HB 3218 is scheduled for a public hearing next Thursday, April 18...

Ok then, that definitely changes things...

I don't see similar language in SB 182, so if that passes without substitute, I assume there will have to be some sort of conference to reconcile the differences between the House and Senate versions?

Or do we try to move forward with HB 706 or HB 1078 instead? Would they meet the same fate, substituted language?

If I understand this correctly, Rep Fletcher's HB 972 states:

(e) A private or independent institution of higher
education in this state, after consulting with students, staff, and
faculty of the institution, may establish rules, regulations, or
other provisions prohibiting license holders from carrying
handguns on premises that are owned or leased and operated by the
institution and located on the campus of the institution.

and it also states:

(a)(2) "Institution of higher education" and "private or
independent institution of higher education" have the meanings
assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

and Section 61.003, Education Code states:

(15) "Private or independent institution of higher education" includes only a private or independent college or university that is:(A) organized under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act (Article 1396-1.01 et seq., Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes);(B) exempt from taxation under Article VIII, Section 2, of the Texas Constitution and Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. Section 501); and(C) accredited by:(i) the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools;(ii) the Liaison Committee on Medical Education; or(iii) the American Bar Association.

THEREFORE

from what I understand, this is similar to the whole issue of private property owners and 30.06. So, TEXAS PUBLIC colleges and university's would NOT BE ABLE TO OPT OUT, only a "private or independent institution of higher education" would be able to opt out.

Personally, I would like the "opt out" removed, so that there would be Campus Carry at every college and university in Texas, but in reading discussions on 30.06, there is always alot of talk about the rights of private property owners, and how a CC'er is free to spend their money eslewhere.

So, I guess if you believe in the rights of a private property owner to post a 30.06, you likely should also believe that a private institution of higher education should have that same option.

If I am misunderstanding anything, I am willing to learn and re-evaluate.

That said, I guess the next steps are to put some pressure on the House Calendar Committee to schedule a vote, and then some work over on the Senate side, to get Sen Birdwell's SB 182 moving.