HBA-KMH H.B. 2486 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2486 By: Uresti Criminal Jurisprudence 4/19/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, a person is caught driving a stolen vehicle can be charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle which is a state jail felony. If the offender is not caught driving the vehicle the penalty is determined solely by the value of the vehicle, therefore if the vehicle had a low resale value the penalty could be lower. The theft of property valued at more than $500 but less than $1,500 is a Class A misdemeanor. The value of a vehicle to a person exceeds the resale value if it is the person's sole means of transportation to and from work. H.B. 2486 increases the penalty for theft of a motor vehicle to a state jail felony if the value of the vehicle is less that $1,500. 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 31.03(e), Penal Code, to provide that theft of a motor vehicle, as defined by Section 501.002 (), Transportation Code, with a value of less than $1,500 is a state jail felony. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.