HBA-GUM, RBT H.B. 861 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 861 By: Dukes Criminal Jurisprudence 6/21/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Gang activity in Texas has become a serious problem. The number of gang members is increasing. Youths who are members of a gang commit serious and violent offenses at a higher rate than youths who are not involved in gangs. H.B. 861 increases the penalties for injuring or threatening a youth with the intention of coercing the child into joining a gang. This bill makes it a state jail felony to threaten a child with imminent bodily injury and a felony of the third degree to cause bodily injury to a child if the person acts with the intent to coerce, induce, or solicit a child to actively participate in the activities of a criminal street gang. 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 Chapter 22, Penal Code, by adding Section 22.015, as follows: Sec. 22.015. COERCING, SOLICITING, OR INDUCING GANG MEMBERSHIP. Defines "child" and "criminal street gang." Provides that it is a state jail felony to threaten a child with imminent bodily injury and a felony of the third degree to cause bodily injury to a child if the person acts with the intent to coerce, induce, or solicit a child to actively participate in the activities of a criminal street gang. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.