I stumbled across this message on the Texas Online portal page and thought others may benefit from knowing about this:
"Concealed Handgun Notice
An enhanced online system will be implemented on May 1, 2010. Please be aware that you must complete all applications before May 1, 2010 or you will need to restart the process."
"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." -- Ronald Reagan
sjfcontrol wrote:I believe that's for instructors...
Well thanks for clearing that up. If you hit the 'continue' button on that page, it takes you to the normal CHL page so it certainly isn't clear it's only for instructors.
"America needs God more than God needs America. If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under." -- Ronald Reagan
You're right, Crossfire -- there isn't. But isn't there some new procedures coming for instructors renewing that includes online (written) testing? Wasn't that a required recent change? And it does NOT affect CHL renewals, just instructors.
My comments were based upon what I understand the instructors changes were, not what it said at the link given.
Range Rule: "The front gate lock is not an acceptable target." Never Forget.
IMO, the website is making an attempt to be helpful, but they are putting out incorrect information, and it has not been told that it is. It should be taken down, or better yet, simply put in a link to the CHL portion to the DPS website. Instead of making an incorrect statement and then putting in the link to apply.
Just my $.02 worth
Diplomacy is the Art of Letting Someone Have Your Way
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Colt Gov't Model .380
Okay, I'm back from Austin and I have clearance to provide this information.
There is an entirely new system going online on May 1st, unless a last minute bug is discovered. The new application process will be entirely online, including affidavits. The new system will not allow you to submit an incomplete application, so this will prevent the dreaded "you didn't give us everything" letter. The notice on TexasOnline is incomplete, thus it is misleading. (It isn't DPS' fault.) The notice should state that people who have started an online application and saved it without completing it and paying the fee will have to start over after May 1st. If you've already completed the online application and have paid your fee, whether or not you have received the packet from DPS,then the warning doesn't apply to you. You can take your course and send in the application material as has always been the case.
Not only is the new online system great, there are other very good changes coming on May 1st. For example, it will no longer be necessary to provide fingerprints and photographs with renewal applications. (I already mentioned that online applications will include the affidavits, so those won't be necessary either.) There are other excellent improvements on the way both for CHL's and CHL instructors, but I'm not at liberty to discuss them now.
While in Austin, I also attended the hearing on the Interim Study in the House Public Safety Committee. DPS is averaging 21 days in completing applications for an initial CHL and 23 days for renewals. With the new online application processing making it impossible to submit an incomplete application, we should continue to see these excellent turnaround times. To give you an idea how the new systems and procedures have helped with processing, DPS has not had any temporary employees in the CHL division since the 4th quarter of 2009, yet they are able to achieve a 21 day turnaround on applications.
I want to thank the folks at DPS for their ongoing efforts to streamline the process and to work with us in making changes that are beneficial to everyone. The new crew at DPS, including the new Col., have been wonderful to work with and they have taken our suggestions and comments seriously. But I don't want to leave the impression that all of the process changes were our ideas; DPS has done an excellent job of analyzing every aspect of their procedures. They have done away with unnecessary procedures without jeopardizing the integrity of the program and they have revamped their entire operation to make it much more efficient and cost effective. I'd like to give the names of the folks responsible for these sweeping changes, but I have not be given clearance to do so. Perhaps I can at some point in the future.
The May 1st changes are excellent and they will make a very positive impact on CHL application processing, but as I said earlier, there are other very good changes coming in future months. These future changes will help both CHL's and instructors. (Instructors, if you like doing away with the TR-100's, you're going to love Phase II!)
That's almost circuit overload, but all is good. I'm quite sure that much more comments will be coming out in the coming weeks about this.
Thanks so much for the bombshell update Charles! You certainly know how to get people's attention!
And I totally agree that muchos kudos go out to DPS for streamlining the application approval process. I've been amazed observing the speed with which approvals are being processed since Sept. 01, 2009. Quite a change from a year ago.
Again, thanks for the update.
Diplomacy is the Art of Letting Someone Have Your Way
TSRA
Colt Gov't Model .380
Just to emphasize Charles' point about turnaround time, my middle daughter was my last student before my Instructor's certificate expired on Dec.31. She turrned in all her paperwork in person on January 18 and recieved her CHL in 21 days exactly.
For my part, I took the online CHL Instructors' renewal exam on 3-8-10 and paid my fee online that day. I was told that the shooting portion of the proficiency exam would be waived. My status is still "Processing Application" but until today I have not inquired as to when it might be completed. Forever hopeful.
You may have heard the Radio/TV announcement today that Charles referred to.
Certainly glad to see the improvements in efficiency without compromising the integrity of the process.
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CWOOD wrote:I was told that the shooting portion of the proficiency exam would be waived.
Any idea why? Is this done often?
I have no idea other than the new legislation requried that instructors be permitted to renew every other time in 'any' county. I had presumed that they would have required that we go to another instructor for this part of it and have a CHL-100 issued.
No, it is not done often...not done ever before as far as I know.
I have an email in to them to discover the current status and if I have omitted anything.
We'll see.
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It does not apply for CHL holders. Only CHL instructors.
