HBA-NMO H.B. 1025 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1025 By: Hilderbran Criminal Jurisprudence 3/1/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, certain murders are classified as capital murder. H.B. 1025 classifies a murder as a capital murder if the actor tortures of the victim in the course of committing the murder or during the same criminal transaction that included the commission of the murder. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 19.03, Penal Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows: (a) Includes in the list of capital murders the murder of an individual if the actor tortures the victim in the course of committing the murder or during the same criminal transaction that included the commission of the murder. Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. (d) Defines "torture" as causing an individual to suffer severe physical pain in a cruel, inhumane, or brutal manner. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.