This section lets certain peace officers and Texas military forces members apply for a license, requires some applicants to submit identifying and employment documents, lets the department issue the license if the application rules are met, waives the fee, and exempts certain peace officers from the handgun proficiency course.
Sec. 411.1991. PEACE OFFICERS. (a) A person may apply for a license issued under this subchapter if the person is: (1) licensed as a peace officer under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, and employed as a peace officer by a law enforcement agency; (2) a railroad peace officer appointed by the director under Article 2A.005, Code of Criminal Procedure, who holds a certificate of authority issued by the director under that article and a peace officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; (3) a special ranger of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association appointed by the director under Article 2A.006, Code of Criminal Procedure, who holds a certificate of authority issued by the director under that article and a peace officer license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement; or (4) a member of the Texas military forces, excluding Texas State Guard members who are serving in the Texas Legislature. (a-1) An applicant who is a peace officer described by Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) shall submit to the department: (1) the name and rank of the applicant; and (2) a current copy of the applicant's license issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and evidence of employment as a peace officer, railroad peace officer, or special ranger, as applicable. (a-2) The department shall adopt rules regarding the information required to be included in an application submitted by a member of the Texas military forces under this section. (b) The department may issue a license under this subchapter to an applicant under this section if the applicant complies with Subsection (a-1) or rules adopted under Subsection (a-2), as applicable. (b-1) An applicant under this section who is a peace officer described by Subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) and who complies with Subsection (a-1) and the other requirements of this subchapter is not required to complete the handgun proficiency course described by Section 411.188 to obtain a license issued under this subchapter. (c) The department shall waive any fee required for a license issued under this subchapter to an applicant under this section. (d) A license issued under this section expires as provided by Section 411.183. Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 62, Sec. 9.15(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 1146 (H.B. 2730), Sec. 11.17, eff. September 1, 2009. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 251 (H.B. 485), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 251 (H.B. 485), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 174 (H.B. 2604), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2015. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 179 (S.B. 16), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2017, 85th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1099 (H.B. 3784), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2017. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 908 (H.B. 3706), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2019. Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 765 (H.B. 4504), Sec. 2.091, eff. January 1, 2025.