TexasCHLforum.com

Mr. XXXX:

Thank you for taking the time to write to Rep. Kolkhorst regarding the processing time of CHL applications by DPS. I apologize that Rep. Kolkhorst is not able to respond to you personally but she has been traveling outside of the district with her family before session begins and will not be returning to the office for another couple of days.

Rep. Kolkhorst worked very hard on improving the functionality and efficiency of DPS during the 2008 Sunset Review process. Many of DPS' problems are a result of an outdated system. It's Rep. Kolkhorst's intent to improve basic functions, such as application processing, by giving DPS the updated tools they need to operate and serve more effectively.

I encourage you to follow the DPS Sunset legislation during the 81st legislative session as it's aim is to better the agency's performance.

Thank you again and please feel free to contact our office at anytime should you have any additional questions or concerns. Have a great day!

Taurie Randermann
Legislative Aide
Representative Lois W. Kolkhorst
Texas House District 13
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768-2910
Phone: 512.463.0600
Fax: 512.463.5240

DPS Sunset. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) will undergo Sunset review during the 2009 session. Legislators may consider proposals to structure and operate the driver’s license program with a civilian business management model rather than the law enforcement command structure now used. Lawmakers also may consider other proposals for organizational changes to the agency, while trying to increase retention and recruitment of staff.

Handguns. Legislators may debate allowing holders of concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons openly. They also may consider allowing handgun licensees to carry their weapons onto college campuses, either public or private. Proposals also may emerge to clarify rules under which school districts enact policies on how and when district employees may bring concealed handguns onto school property.

ProjectS15 wrote: I got a Kimber UC II in SS as well

Dear Representative Kolkhurst and Senator Ogden:

I am writing to you to express my concern over the time that it is taking the Department of Public Safety to process CHL applications, particularly for residents in and around Harris County.

I completed my CHL training course on August 30th and sent my completed application to Austin on September 2nd. On September 15th I received a letter requesting a better copy of my DD-214 that showed my honorable discharge status from the USAF. On October 1st the status of my application changed online to "Processing Application" and has remained so to this day. Using the October 1st date as reference it has been more than 90 days since my application started processing and if you use the September 4th date I was given over the phone on December 30th as the receipt date then it has been even longer, including a delay of providing a new copy of my DD-214. The DPS representative I spoke with was very polite and was only able to tell me that they were still waiting on background checks and would not divulge which counties were suspect as they were no longer allowed to.

Based on information from others with similar experiences on a forum for Texas CHL holders (TexasCHLforum.com). I can deduce that the main problem is with Harris and/or Montgomery Counties. Harris County applicants are notorious for having to wait more than 120+ days while Tarrant and other counties surrounding DFW have their plastic “in hand” in less than 40 days.

As I am sure that you already know, GC §411.177(b) states, "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;
(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.

I have never received any notification, other than when I called and spoke with someone, that there would be a delay, not even the distributed “Ike letter” that was sent to many Harris and Brazoria county applicants. As a matter of fact the DPS representative on the phone also could not inform me as to an estimate of the time frame it will take to complete the application either. As a conservative, law-abiding citizen, and an honorably discharged veteran residing in House District 13 and Senate District 5, I am asking you, as my state representatives, to use your particular influence to ensure that my application is processed to completion and CHL issued in the most expeditious manner possible.

I would further urge you to use your best efforts and influence to identify and remove whatever inefficiencies exist in CHL applications processing in Harris and its surrounding counties, such that all law-abiding and eligible applicants receive their CHLs in a timely manner.

I thank you in advance for your attention to this matter and would appreciate your response to this communication.

Kind Regards,

Keith B wrote:

TxDrifter wrote: I did not realize that Grimes County was affected by this as well, or has this now become their "canned" response to everyone?

If you only listed Grimes county as your last 5 years of residence or employment, I wouldn't think it should affect it. However, just remember if you have other counties listed that might have been impacted or that the person doing the background checks is in, then it is possible. I know one guy that had listed eight different counties on his app. This was before the backlog, but it still took him right at 60 days to get his license issued.

Or another possibility is that the person who does the background checks from your county was sent to the affected area to work during that time. There was another post that the DPS officer in Harris county was out for 5 or 6 weeks doing other duties during the hurricane.

NOTE: Morgan kinda beat me to it with a one liner! LOL

Morgan wrote:Did any of your previous residences exist in Harris or Brazoria county?

I am writing to check on the status of my CHL Application. It has currently been more than 60 days and the website still reads Processing Application. There was a delay early on because my DD-214 did not have the Honorable Discharge visible in the copy I sent in, I believe. Could you please update me on the status with something more tangible than "Processing Application".

At this time we are awaiting the completion of the background investigation. Due to Hurricane Ike, some of the background investigations are taking longer than normal. We do not have an estimated time of completion at this juncture. Thank you for your continued patience