On June 1, 2015, Gov. Greg Abbott signed S.B. 11, also known as the “campus carry” law. S.B. 11 provides that license holders may carry a concealed handgun throughout university campuses, starting Aug. 1, 2016. The law gives public universities some discretion to regulate campus carry.
The University of Texas at Austin and President Gregory L. Fenves take issues surrounding guns on campus very seriously and will strive to create policies that conform to the new law, protect the rights of citizens and ensure the safety and security of the entire campus.
S.B. 11 provides that after consulting with students, staff and faculty regarding “the nature of the student population, specific safety considerations and the uniqueness of the campus environment” the university may enact reasonable rules and regulations regarding:
- carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on campus; and
- storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities
The law stipulates, however, that these rules and regulations may not either “generally prohibit” or “have the effect of generally prohibiting” license holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus.
The purpose of the Youth Protection Program (YPP) is to protect all minors in their university-sponsored activities and interactions involving members of The University of Texas at Austin community. Pursuant to S.B. 11 (the “Campus Carry Law”), the YPP Policy prohibits the carrying of a concealed handgun by any person involved in a University of Texas at Austin camp/program for minors. As a condition of their child’s participation in a camps/programs parents and guardians who are visiting or transporting a participating minor to and from camps/programs at The University of Texas at Austin is prohibited from carrying a concealed handgun.
“PURSUANT TO SECTION 30.06, PENAL CODE (TRESPASS BY LICENSE HOLDER WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN), A PERSON LICENSED UNDER SUBCHAPTER H, CHAPTER 411, GOVERNMENT CODE (HANDGUN LICENSING LAW), MAY NOT ENTER THIS PROPERTY WITH A CONCEALED HANDGUN”
Please see the Campus Carry Implementation (www.campuscarry.utexas.edu/) website for more information.