TITLE: Relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and suicide prevention.

SUMMARY: Relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and suicide prevention.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a public awareness campaign on firearm safety and suicide prevention. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.210 to read as follows: Sec. 411.210. FIREARM SAFETY AND SUICIDE PREVENTION PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. (a) The department, in conjunction with the Department of State Health Services, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and other appropriate agencies, shall develop and implement a public awareness campaign designed to encourage firearm safety and to improve public awareness on the topics of: (1) prevention of firearm accidents involving children; (2) suicide prevention; and (3) the safe handling and storage of firearms. (b) In implementing the campaign, the department may engage in online advocacy, issue public service announcements, and distribute materials that cover the topics described by Subsection (a). The department may publish its own materials on those topics or may distribute materials published by firearm safety education programs that seek to encourage firearm owners to embrace the importance of firearm storage. (c) The department may pay the costs of the campaign and its administration from: (1) gifts, grants, or donations; (2) matching funds; and (3) other funds made available for that purpose, including available department revenue. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.