HBA-RBT H.B. 810 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 810 By: Jones, Jesse Criminal Jurisprudence 4/21/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Older citizens are more vulnerable to crimes of theft and fraud. Many older citizens are frail and unable to stop or recognize an occurring theft and fraud situation. H.B. 810 increases the punishment for specified offenses involving theft, fraud, or harassment, if it is shown that the victim of the offense is elderly the punishment will be increased to the next highest category of offense unless the offense is a first degree felony or a Class A misdemeanor. This bill provides that if the offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the minimum term of confinement is increased to 180 days 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 Subchapter D, Chapter 12, Penal Code, by adding Section 12.48, as follows: Sec. 12.48. PENALTY IF CERTAIN OFFENSES COMMITTED AGAINST ELDERLY INDIVIDUAL. Provides that for specified offenses involving theft, fraud, or harassment, if it is shown that the victim of the offense is elderly the punishment will be increased to the next highest category of offense unless the offense is a first degree felony or a Class A misdemeanor. Provides that if the offense is a Class A misdemeanor, the minimum term of confinement is increased to 180 days. Defines "elderly individual" to be a person over the age of 65. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.