HBA-RAR H.B. 48 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 48
By: Clark
Criminal Jurisprudence
4/23/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Studies have shown a high incidence of crimes against the elderly committed
by con artists and unscrupulous home repair contractors.  H.B. 48 increases
by one degree the penalty for theft committed against the elderly.    

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 31.01, Penal Code, by adding Subdivision (10),
to define "elderly individual" a person 65 years of age or older as the
meaning assigned by Section 22.01(c). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 31.03(f), Penal Code, by adding subdivision (3),
to include  an offense committed against an elderly individual in the list
of offenses for which punishment is increased to the next higher category. 

SECTION 3.  Makes the application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5.  Emergency clause.