Amends TCA Title 39, Chapter 17.
Under present law, it is generally a criminal offense for a person to possess or carry, a weapon, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, on property that is owned, operated, or in use by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. If the person intends to go armed while possessing or carrying the weapon, the offense is a Class E felony. Generally, there is no offense if the person possessing or carrying the weapon does not have the intent to go armed, unless the weapon is a firearm, in which case the person commits a Class B misdemeanor. Present law specifies several exceptions to the offense of carrying weapons on school property, including exceptions for employees of higher education institutions who possess an enhanced handgun carry permit, employees of colleges of agriculture while in discharge of official duties or living in university housing (subject to prior authorization from their university president), and employees of board of regents institutions who are engaged in wildlife biology or ecology research and education for the purpose of capture or collection of specimens (subject to prior authorization from their university president). For purposes of such exceptions concerning higher education employees, present law defines "employee" to include all faculty, staff, and other persons who are employed on a full-time basis by a public institution of higher education. This bill adds that "employee" also includes all faculty, staff, and other persons who: (1) Are retired federal, state, or local law enforcement officers; (2) Served as a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer for at least 20 years prior to retirement; (3) Retired in good standing as certified by the chief law enforcement officer of the organization from which the officer retired; and (4) Are employed on a part-time basis by a public institution of higher education.
Under present law, it is generally a criminal offense for a person to possess or carry, a weapon, not used solely for instructional or school-sanctioned ceremonial purposes, on property that is owned, operated, or in use by any board of education, school, college or university board of trustees, regents or directors for the administration of any public or private educational institution. If the person intends to go armed while possessing or carrying the weapon, the offense is a Class E felony. Generally, there is no offense if the person possessing or carrying the weapon does not have the intent to go armed, unless the weapon is a firearm, in which case the person commits a Class B misdemeanor. Present law specifies several exceptions to the offense of carrying weapons on school property, including exceptions for employees of higher education institutions who possess an enhanced handgun carry permit, employees of colleges of agriculture while in discharge of official duties or living in university housing (subject to prior authorization from their university president), and employees of board of regents institutions who are engaged in wildlife biology or ecology research and education for the purpose of capture or collection of specimens (subject to prior authorization from their university president). For purposes of such exceptions concerning higher education employees, present law defines "employee" to include all faculty, staff, and other persons who are employed on a full-time basis by a public institution of higher education. This bill adds that "employee" also includes all faculty, staff, and other persons who: (1) Are retired federal, state, or local law enforcement officers; (2) Served as a federal, state, or local law enforcement officer for at least 20 years prior to retirement; (3) Retired in good standing as certified by the chief law enforcement officer of the organization from which the officer retired; and (4) Are employed on a part-time basis by a public institution of higher education.
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