Serving Harris, Galveston, Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties
HOUSTON
January Issue 2016
Inside This Issue
HANDGUNS AND HEALTHCARE WHAT TEXAS PROVIDERS SHOULD KNOW Marks S. Armstrong, J.D. Epstein, Becker & Green, P.C.
The Open Carry Law. Houston Hope Lodge First no- cost residence For cancer patients See pg. 9
INDEX Mental Health...............pg.3 Oncology Research......pg.5 Healthy Heart................pg.6 Age Well Live Well........pg.10 Nutrition Corner...........pg.15
Direct Energy supports expansion of Texas Children’s Heart Center See pg .14
Effective January 1, 2016, holders of a handgun license in Texas may openly carry a handgun that is secured in a shoulder or belt holster. The “Open Carry Law” (HB 910) authorizes individuals who have obtained a handgun license to openly carry a handgun in the same places that allow the licensed carrying of a concealed handgun, with some exceptions. Although nursing homes and most hospitals are exempt from this law, the law generally authorizes handguns (openly or concealed) in other health care facilities, including, but not limited to, physician offices, clinics, pharmacies, clinical laboratories, dialysis facilities, and infusion clinics.
concealed handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a concealed handgun.” The sign must be written in both English and Spanish and in contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height that is clearly visible to the public at the entrance of the property. The sign must contain the exact wording from the statute, or a licensed handgun holder could claim that effective notice was not given.
Health care providers, like other business owners, who want to prohibit the carrying of a concealed handgun on their private business property may do so orally or with written documentation, such as a card or other Health care providers who want document, or by posting a sign that to prohibit an individual from openly reads: carrying a handgun on the property “Pursuant to Section 30.06, Penal must provide an additional oral or Code (trespass by license holder with a written notice with a card or other document or by posting a separate sign that reads:
“Pursuant to Section 30.07, Penal Code (trespass by license holder with an openly carried handgun), a person licensed under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code (handgun licensing law), may not enter this property with a handgun that is carried openly.” The sign must be written in both English and Spanish and in
contrasting colors with block letters at least one inch in height that is displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public at each entrance to the property. Once again, it is important that the sign contain the exact wording from the statute. It is significant to note that the notice prohibiting the concealed handgun under Penal Code 30.06 requires a sign “displayed in a conspicuous manner clearly visible to the public”, while the notice prohibiting an openly carried handgun under Penal Code 30.07 must be posted “at each entrance to the property”. Health care providers who want to prohibit handgun license holders from carrying a handgun in their office or health care facility must provide effective notice that is worded and displayed according to the statute. Since the required notice language must be identical to that in the statute, health care providers must give two notices in order to prohibit an individual from carrying, either openly or concealed, a handgun into their office or health care facility. The Campus Carry Law. On August 1, 2016, the see Open Carry page 16
PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 1 HOUSTON TX