AUTHORIZATION TO CARRY FIREARM

(a) A juvenile probation officer may carry a firearm in the course of the officer's official duties if:

(1) the juvenile probation officer possesses a certificate of firearms proficiency issued by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.259 , Occupations Code;

(2) the chief juvenile probation officer of the juvenile probation department that employs the juvenile probation officer authorizes the juvenile probation officer to carry a firearm in the course of the officer's official duties; and

(3) the juvenile probation officer has been employed for at least one year by the juvenile probation department described by Subdivision (2).

(b) A juvenile probation officer is disqualified from being authorized to carry a firearm under this section if the officer has been designated a perpetrator in a Texas Juvenile Justice Department abuse, neglect, or exploitation investigation.

(c) This section does not affect the sovereign immunity of the state, an agency of the state, or a political subdivision of the state. Added by Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 794 (S.B. 1237 ), Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 2009. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303 ), Sec. 27.002(12), eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 93 (S.B. 686 ), Sec. 2.41, eff. May 18, 2013. Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 734 (H.B. 1549 ), Sec. 125, eff. September 1, 2015.