A bill authorizing the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security to create a voucher program for the purpose of offsetting the cost of individuals taking a handgun safety course for the first time will take effect on January 1, 2024.
The bill, HB1307/SB0360, was signed by Governor Bill Lee on May 17. The legislation was sponsored by State Representative Sabi ‘Doc’ Kumar (R-Springfield) and State Senator Becky Massey (R-Knoxville).
Effective January 1, 2024, the Department of Safety will authorize vouchers to offset the cost for those taking a handgun safety course for the first time. To locate a handgun safety school, please visit the link below. https://t.co/QnQM4mddMG pic.twitter.com/f0f3b0U3SI
— TN House Republicans (@tnhousegop) December 13, 2023
As of January 1, 2024, the $100 enhanced handgun carry permit application and processing fee will be used to pay reimbursements to an approved handgun safety school of up to $30 for each person who completes a handgun safety course for the first time.
Handgun safety schools will be reimbursed regardless of whether the person taking the safety course has applied for an enhanced handgun carry permit.
This bill is effective until January 1, 2025.
By February 1, 2025, a report must be compiled and presented to the General Assembly with the number of handgun safety courses provided during the preceding year pursuant to the bill.
In February 2023, the state’s Handgun Permit Reserve was reported to have a total balance of $24,427,857. The total increase in state expenditures from the Handgun Permit Reserve is estimated to be $1,094,280 when the bill takes effect and through its duration, according to the Tennessee General Assembly Fiscal Review Committee.
“The current balance of the Handgun Permit Reserve is sufficient to cover the estimated costs of the reimbursement program without a need for additional appropriations or expenditures from the General Fund,” the Fiscal Review Committee previously declared in its fiscal note for the bill.
As of December 1, there are a total of 723,558 current individuals who possess a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit, according to the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
